Can you serve both God and men, or please God and mammon at the same time?
No. Scripture teaches a person cannot serve both God and men or please God and mammon simultaneously. Paul refused to seek men's approval or be beholden to them, choosing instead to be Christ's bond slave; pleasing men would disqualify him from being the servant of Christ.
Les explains that Paul’s question is whether he persuades men or God. Paul was not serving men, because he did not draw a salary and did not have to be beholden to anybody. If he needed money, he made tents, so he did not have to worry about losing his pay and did not have to serve men. Paul asks, “Do I seek to please men? For if I yet please men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” Les says you cannot serve both; you cannot please God and mammon. The apostle says there is no way. He suffered imprisonment, beatings, shipwreck, cold, heat, and nakedness—not to serve men, but because he was the bond slave of Jesus Christ. This is the motivation of the apostle, leading into Ephesians chapter 3.
For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
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.