Money gives you power that nothing else can give you. The power of money operates without the dependency inherent in most other types of power.
Jesus told his followers twice that they could not serve God and money. He unmasked money as a powerful personal force competing for our service and devotion.
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”(Matthew 6:24)
You could have expected him to say that you could not serve both God and Caesar. The Romans made Caesar into a god, which they wanted conquered peoples to obey.
Consider Caesar’s political and military authority. Caesar's position stemmed from his lineage, often being the offspring of influential figures, granting him his status. His power depended on his political support, military achievements, popular backing, and strategic alliances with influential figures.
Any type of personal power is always derived power because it ultimately stems from external sources or factors. Personal power is never inherent to the individual but is instead contingent on external factors such as hierarchical position, knowledge, or personality traits. This makes it derived power, as it depends on sources outside of the individual's inherent status, characteristics or abilities.
Money, however, operates as an independent force due to its unique characteristics and societal influence. Unlike many forms of power, such as political or military authority, money does not rely on personal attributes or societal structures for its effectiveness. Instead, it holds intrinsic power as a medium of exchange, unit of account, and store of value. Its fungibility (ability to be exchanged) allows it to be easily traded for goods and services, transcending personal identities or affiliations. When spending, it is unnecessary to be accountable for how you spend it. The spending power is yours alone.
Money can be stored for later use, enabling individuals to accumulate wealth over time, further enhancing their influence. However, you cannot store any other types of personal power. It must be spent immediately.
Money can be counted - you know how much you have. Other types of personal power cannot be quantified or measured.
Money allows individuals to accomplish their desires discreetly without requiring recognition or the need for any approval of who they are as individuals. This secrecy, this hidden power, is a fascinating aspect of money. Money wields an impersonal influence, transcending personal attributes. It reigns as a supreme force in the world, prompting the question: Why rely on God when money seemingly fulfils every need and whim?
Money’s autonomy gives it a level of power that surpasses other forms of authority, as it can be leveraged independently of external factors or social hierarchies. This is a major reason why it is such a powerful competitor to our devotion to God.
There is a much deeper dimension to this personal power of money—a spiritual dimension. When Jesus talked about not serving God and money, he spoke the Aramaic language and actually said, ‘You cannot serve both God and Mammon.’ Mammon was an Aramaic word meaning ‘that in which we can trust.’
Why wasn't this word translated? Well, what types of words do we typically leave untranslated? Names are the most common. Instead of translating a name from one language to another, we usually transliterate it. That's precisely what the gospel writers did in this case. The early church reasoned that they did this because they grasped something Jesus was conveying: this isn't just an ordinary noun; it represents something more profound. It's not merely a principle or an abstract idea; it signifies a quasi-personal, identifiable force in human affairs, one with its own will that opposes God's intentions - a demonic power.
The early church didn't view Mammon as merely a concept or theory; they regarded it as the name of a being in service to the adversary of all that is good - Satan or the devil. Mammon is seen as a malevolent force throughout history, possessing a quasi-personal ability to influence and manipulate human affairs. Its goals stand in stark opposition to those of God.
As a demonic force, Mammon despises individuals; its aim is to promote impersonal interactions. It seeks to dehumanise people, turning them into mere objects. When Mammon exerts its influence over a society, as seen in the Roman Empire and the capitalism shaping the Western world, individuals are treated as commodities, devoid of personal value. This dehumanisation is evident in practices like slavery, where individuals are treated as property rather than as human beings.
In contrast, God desires a world populated with individuals, each valued and cherished for their uniqueness, fostering a community where all are known and loved.
In conclusion, I need to ask myself, “How can I use money to serve God and be free from the power of Mammon?”
I will try to anwer this in the next blog. Watch this space!
Peter J. Briscoe