May 20

The friendship of the world is enmity with God.

JAMES iv. 4.

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. — MATT. vi. 24.

HERE are two masters, God and Mammon, or the things of God and the things of this world. There are only these two masters. The choice is made more easily when it is seen to lie between two things or individuals only; and the choice is not only of an individual, but for a service. The person chooses to serve, and to serve in the service of one of these two masters. Both of these masters cannot be chosen; both of these services cannot be given. From its nature and working, the one necessarily excludes the other.

In choosing God as master, we choose his service: we choose to serve. "For me to live is Christ;" to live is blessed. "For me to die is gain;" to die is blessed. But this service must be prompted by love, not performed as duty. It must be a service given in a holding to and a loving of God. A person may do the godly and yet not be godly; love determines the true service. Love must lead to labor, and labor will increase love.

Jesus, Master, whose I am, Purchased thine alone to be By thy blood, O spotless Lamb, Shed so willingly for me, Let my heart be all thine own, Let me live to thee alone.

F. R. HAVERGAL