The Greek word mammwnaק (mammonas), from which we get the word "mammon," means: "wealth, personified." But money, as such, is nothing in itself (it is merely a symbol). Nor can one "serve" material things; but people serve themselves of material things. We therefore conclude that "mammon" is a spirit which enslaves men to the "love of money," or to material possessions; and, thus to selfishness and greed~which, sin, the Bible calls, "covetousness." Moreover, the Bible identifies covetousness with "idolatry:"
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry (Colossians 3:5)
That is why Scripture says, "Ye cannot serve God and mammon:" because, those who serve mammon serve the god of material wealth, through their covetousness. Which is idolatry.
But who or what actually receives idolatrous worship from one who is covetous?
Worship is not singing songs, or clapping and waving one's hands, or playing music, or lying prostrate on the floor, or any other such thing. But "worship" means: "to express submission to a deity; to exalt or reverence the same." Covetousness "exalts, reverences, and expresses submission to"~ oneself. Covetousness thus is "self-worship." And that is why the Bible calls it "idolatry."
Covetousness is explicitly identified in Scripture as being the #1 (number-one) reason why that "in the last days perilous times shall come. For [because] men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous..." (2 Timothy 3:1).
The phrase, "lovers of their own selves," is actually from a single Greek word (fi÷lautoß-philautos), which word appears nowhere else in Scripture. Thus it does not have the same meaning as to love oneself in a godly sense. Rather, it means to be selfish: pleasing oneself; exalting oneself; serving oneself. "Lovers of their own selves" are "covetous;" covetousness is idolatry. And the "idol" thus worshiped is self. The recent phenomenon involving massive numbers of people taking pictures of themselves (so-called "selfies"), appears to be a prophetic sign of the fulfillment of 2 Timothy 3: Self-love.
That is why Jesus said the following:
If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and [hate] his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:26)
If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. (Matthew 16:24)
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3)
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. (Mark 8:35)
The principle of self-denial (not to abuse or to neglect the care of oneself, but to subordinate oneself to the rule and the authority of Christ) is plainly stated throughout the New Testament; and it is easy to understand its meaning. But it is impossible for anyone, apart from the mercy of God and the power of the Holy Ghost, to subordinate self-interest and self-will to the Lordship of Christ. Yet, that is precisely what is required in order to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.
The apostate Church revels in the idea that "God loves everyone, unconditionally." But that is an abominable lie. In fact, the Bible expressly states that God "abhors" [loathes, hates] those who are covetous (Psalm 10:3). Most professing Christians vastly underestimate the seriousness of the offense of covetousness. Listen to what God says about those who are covetous:
Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:10)
For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. (Ephesians 5:5)
[A]n heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children (2 Peter 2:14)
I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. (1 Corinthians 5:9-11)
How serious is that? Whereas many professing Christians are quick to condemn certain sins, such as murder, adultery, or homosexuality; yet, one seldom hears anyone condemn the egregious sin of covetousness. On the contrary, the contemporary (apostate) Church is very fond of the "gospel of prosperity," which suggests that Christianity is the path to material wealth. But God said that those who are covetous shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Moreover, faithful Christians are commanded not to keep company with those, professing Christians, who are covetous. Does that not necessitate that Christians must be capable, as well as responsible, to exercise "judgment?" In fact, the verses immediately following the above passage state:
For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. (1 Corinthians 5:12-13)
But why does God so hate covetousness? After all, should individuals not have the right to enjoy whatsoever rewards they've earned, by reason of their own labors and ingenuity? Who is harmed as the result of someone else's good success or wealth?
No one should be harmed by anyone's good success or wealth. But very many are harmed by the selfishness and greed of those who are covetous. Remember, the focus is not upon those who are unsaved. The focus rather is upon those who profess to be Christians and, yet, they are covetous. They are selfish. Thus they withhold from ministering to others according to the abundance which God has given to them.
Sadly, the Church is practically no different than the world, regarding the grossly inequitable distribution of wealth within supposedly Christian congregations. Recently, I published an essay titled, "Giving to the devil" (here), in which I exposed the pervasive misuse of church funds, by the majority of American churches. Now, there must be some fairly wealthy individuals supporting the plethora of multi-million dollar church facilities across America. But their giving to those churches is woefully misguided, at best. Meanwhile, the real needs of the Body of Christ go largely unmet.
What does the Bible say about God's will concerning the relationship between rich and poor Christians in the Church? Here are a few of the relevant passages of Scripture:
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute [give], willing to communicate [a "sharer, associate, patron, or partner"]; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. (1 Timothy 6:17-19)
For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: as it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack. (1 Corinthians 8:13-15)
It is not only many wealthy, who are covetous. But perhaps even a higher proportion of the poor are also covetous. One can be selfish and covetous, without actually having much possessions. I repeat, being wealthy is not a problem. Some of the most godly men in the Bible were exceedingly rich. But covetousness~selfishness and greed, that is the problem.
We are at a critical point in time; similar, I believe, to the years preceding the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. In those days of the early Church, the Holy Ghost moved in a special way to direct the equitable redistribution of wealth amongst the Body of Christ in Jerusalem. Of course, God knew that Jerusalem was soon then going to be destroyed, and that all of the Christians' properties were about to be taken or destroyed by the Romans. Therefore, God directed to the best use of those things while there was yet opportunity to do so.
I believe we are now in just such a time as that. The signs of Christ's soon appearing overwhelmingly testify that the Rapture cannot be far distant. Which also means that the appearing of Antichrist must be very near. The true Church, though looking to God for a great outpouring of His Spirit, yet we are not expecting anything like economic revival. We are in fact expecting just the opposite. Witness the widespread "prepper" phenomenon.
Far more important than supplying much needed help to the poor amongst the Body of Christ, is the urgent need to remove spiritual obstacles to Revival, from the lives of God's people. I mean that pride, selfishness, covetousness, envy, bitterness, backbiting, jealousy: all of those works of the flesh~and more~are greatly hindering the Holy Ghost from moving as He wants to among the Body of believers. We need a great outpouring of God's Spirit to work deep repentance amongst the Body of Christ~in order that God may then use us as laborers to bring in an End-time harvest of souls.
Covetousness is one of the most prevalent obstacles throughout the Church, to such a move of God.
One final note. In the same night, two of Christ's disciples grievously sinned against the Lord. Both betrayed him. Peter betrayed Jesus because of fear. But Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus for a different reason. It was something that had a hold of him for a long time, and which he never did overcome. Here is the first sign of that:
Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. (John 12:5-6)Later, Judas would betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.
Peter was forgiven and restored, and went on to be greatly used by God. But Judas was covetous. And in the end, his covetousness destroyed him.
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