Conflicting Loyalties

When a Christian tries to live a "double life" spiritually speaking (Matthew 23:27-28), he is anything but blessed. In fact James tells us that such a man is “a double-minded man — unstable in all his ways” (James 1:8; cf. James 4:8).

Trying to keep their eyes on two masters, makes for a crossed-eyed individual — their spiritual vision being so blurred that nothing is really clear. Their conflicting loyalties cause them to be confused and tense (Matthew 6:24).

Conversely, if a Christian is both inwardly and outwardly single in heart, mind, and soul, their spiritual sight is clear (Ephesians 6:5; Colossians 3:22; cf. 1 Chronicles 29:10-19). This is why Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8 ).

All of the above thoughts make it clear that there is no middle ground in Christianity. The human inclination to compromise is not known by the writers of the Bible. If a Christian doesn’t gather, he "scatters" (Luke 11:23). If he isn’t for, he is "against" (Matthew 12:30). If he doesn’t love, he "hates" (1 John 3:14-15). If he isn’t good, he is "evil" (Luke 6:45). If he isn’t spiritually alive, he is spiritually "dead" (1 Timothy 5:6; Revelation 3:1; cf. Matthew 8:22; Ephesians 2:1,5).

Beloved, let us never allow conflicting loyalties to come between us and the Lord (cf. Matthew 10:34-37; Luke 14:26).

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets