Two Masters.

You cannot succeed in the world and serve God as well.
You will compromise your principles to achieve success.
Or you will sacrifice success to serve God.

"'No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and wealth.'"  Luke 16:13 (NRSV)

It is very rare for a person to achieve a high position in society and still be faithful to God.
They will be seriously flawed like David or John F. Kennedy, who was killed like his brother Robert and Martin Luther King Jnr., as were Gandhi and Anwar Sadat.

The only godly man to survive is Nelson Mandela, and he did not challenge big business.

Barak Obama is in constant danger because he is challenging the powers of the world - big business and conservative religion.

Ang San Su Kyi has been under house arrest and is always in danger.

Instead our leaders compromise with big business and conservatives.
In this way they survive but nothing changes.

Big business owns the media.
They use it for their own purposes.
To threaten political leaders and activists.
To promote those who serve their interests.

The world has no respect for the messenger of God.
He has no position.
He has no letters after his name.
He has no power.
So why should the world listen to him.
They will take what suits them.
And ignore the rest.

The ultimate purpose of God is to enlighten us.
And to enlighten us is to open our hearts.
Love is the ultimate purpose of life.
We learn to love.
And to do this we must overcome our fear.
Fear motivates the world
It triggers violence, stirs hatred, wants revenge.....
But God does none of these things because there is no fear in Him, only Love.
If we can address the fear which lies at the root of all evil we will find Love.

The covenant with God is a bond of Love.
Love God and love your neighbor.

God does not judge evil people because He understands what makes them evil.
And He forgives them.

So, "'Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.'"  Luke 6:27,28 (NRSV)

This is understanding.


[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council Of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]