Share
Tweet
The Scriptures teach us that the love for money is the root of all evil. (I Tim. 6:10) If you ever want to find the shady, cutthroat and underhanded reasons men do harm to others, just follow the trail of money. Jesus distilled the servitude of man down to two options: God or money. He taught that these two are mutually exclusive. It is an either/or option! One of these two options will master us!
"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)
The greek word for mammon literally means, "wealth or riches." This goes with the teaching of the Apostle Paul, where he used the term "the love for money." Having money or wealth is not, in and of itself, sin. However, when the drive for riches has us, it is sin! How do we know if it has us? When our life is a constant pursuit of stuff, stuff and more stuff, or money, money and more money, it has us! Most in our society are slaves to the 'almighty dollar.' Selling the spirtual health of their marriage, their children and their personal lives just to get another dollar. Why another dollar? So they can get more stuff. It is like feeding a fire in a wood burning stove; the flame never gets enough!
Judas was caught in this same trap. Greed did not arrive on the stage of human history with the prosperity of modern times. It is a result of man's self-centeredness and has been around since the beginning. As man turns away from following the Lord in 'spirit and in truth,' his heart always turns toward some type of idolatry. And this idolatry always has the love for money at its core.
Long before Judas betrayed the Lord for the thirty pieces of silver, he was robbing from the ministry offerings of Jesus. (John 12:6) The life of sacrifice for others was not what Judas really desired, but he hid this from the other disciples by using spiritual sounding statements. (John 12:6) It is easy for us to hide our true self behind platitudes and god words. We may fool others and our closest friends. However, the Lord is never fooled! So where are our real priorities? Do we constantly use excuses to justify why we fail to act like a believer or demonstrate faithfulness to the things of God? Do we think these excuses will float on the day of judgement?
Does our faith have a price to it? Are we willing to forfeit our spiritual life and the life of our family in order to satisfy our fleshly desires? Thousands are doing just that! I know of many professing believers who are trading in the life of Christ for the goals and plans they pursue. Of course, they usually hide it with "I feel the Lord is leading me" words, while it is obvious they are following their own passions and pride.
Can you imagine all that Judas saw? The miracles, the healings, the life and teachings of Jesus which penetrated the heart of all who heard Him. Can you imagine all he heard from Jesus when the twelve were alone with Him? Or the love he felt from Jesus? And yet, there was a price Judas was willing to accept to sell out Jesus. He was willing to forfeit all that Jesus had for him in order to gain some temporary riches.
This life is short. Many times we fail to count our days and realize they are passing very quickly! Judas sold Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. What is the price we are selling out for? A home, a job, a sinful relationship, a marriage, a family, a career goal, or maybe an education? While we look down on Judas when we hear the account of his betrayal, many around us are doing the same thing! A quick glance across our congregations reveals this, as also does a glance around our neighborhoods. We see that men are doing everything with their life and time on Sundays and throughout the week except faithfulness to the life of a Christian. We see men who place hobbies, pleasure and relaxation before faithful Church attendence, the teaching of Scriptures and helping the needy. It is Judas all over again!
May the Lord place a "Not for Sale" sign in our heart! As we face our culture and our friends, may our devotion and submission to Christ be a living sign that we are not following Judas! If we are genuinely one of God's children, the Lord will chasten us if we allow any person or thing to interfere with our relationship with Him! That is a promise! (Heb. 12:5-8) If we fail to pursue Christ and do not experience His chastening hand, we are not His children. (Heb. 12:8) The Lord will not let His children continue down a path of rebellion, spiritual unconcern or worldliness. He loves His children too much to allow this.
Judas was not a genuine believer. He was a devil and an unbeliever from the beginning. (John 6:64,70) Therefore, Jesus let him continue down his destructive path and it ended in shame! Judas sold the Lamb of God for thirty pieces of silver! He also sold his own soul and eternal destiny. He gained temporary finances, but his life ended in suicide. Let us take heed and not follow his path!
Let us take spiritual inventory concerning our relationship with Christ by examining ourselves and making sure we are in "the faith." (II Cor. 13:5) Judas sold the Lord for thirty pieces of silver! Let us not do the same! Let us hear these words from the lips of our Lord Jesus as they echo down through time.
"What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Mark 8:36-37)
The love and life which is in Christ is more valuable than all the dainties this life has to offer. Everything here is temporal and fleeting. However, salvation in Christ is sure, sufficient and eternal! Hallelujah to the King! Hallelujah, what a Savior!
Because of His Grace,
Terry
No comments:
Post a Comment