“Mammonas” the Greek word for “mammon” denotes material wealth in such a way as a being personal power competing with devotion to God. Deriving also from the Aramaic root word “mamona” it speaks to the Hebrew word “aman” meaning “to trust”. It conveys more than just money, it embodies the trust, confidence or security people place in material possessions rather than God (Luke 18:18-23).

And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. Luke 18:18-23

In some interpretations, mammonas is personified as a false deity or master representing the moral and spiritual dangers of prioritising wealth over spiritual devotion.

In truth, the Lord in Matthew 6:24 teaches that devotion to the pursuit of wealth competes with devotion to God; similarly in Luke 16:9,11,13 He pointedly teaches using worldly wealth wisely to benefit others, highlighting that faithfulness with mammonas tests readiness for true spiritual riches.

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. Matthew 6:24

And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations… If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?…  No servant 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. Luke 16:9,11,13

And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: and he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? Luke 12:13-20

Mammonas is a rival master, and we must heed the warning that excessive attachment to material wealth can distract from spiritual priorities and moral integrity. Two things that most Nigerian churchgoers have lost, and they gloat about it like the religious leaders of Jesus’ days (Luke 16:14-16).
Selah.

Pastor Afolabi Oladele