"For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows" (I Timothy 6:10).
Judas Iscariot was the treasurer of Jesus’ ministry bag. Normally, it is expected of any treasurer to give a periodic report concerning the health of the kitty. Thus a treasurer is often the most trusted officer of the organization.
Judas appeared to have been the right fit for the job because he possessed a certain quality critical in that job. He seemed frugal. When on a certain occasion Mary the brother of Lazurus splashed Jesus with an expensive perfume he raised a good accountant objection. "Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denariib and the money given to the poor?” (John 12:5).
Sounds like a good guy who knows everything about money. Except that all this was hot air. In fact, knowing his heart, Jesus once rebuked him. “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me." (vv 7- 8).
The truth of the matter was that "Judas did not say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money bag, he used to take from what was put into it" ( vv 6). Yes, as he skimmed off Jesus, he probably was putting up some nice pad elsewhere. Maybe he had bought secretly a prime plot in the middle of Jerusalem whose price was steadily appreciating and he hoped to cash in on one day.
But once your heart is sold on money it is never enough. Maybe he got into debt. Eventually he decided to sell out his master. "Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over" ( Mathew 26: 14-16).
So, there you have it. The guy who was already loaded could just never have enough of it! Ultimately this obsession with money would end up costing him his life too. For after betraying his master he realised it was all for naught. "So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself" (Mathew 27:5). A good case of what happens when money becomes your idol!
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I pray not to wear out myself with the love of money but be ever trusting in you to take care of all my needs, this I pray in Jesus’ name.
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17/05/2024 - 18/05/2024 All day“And I in righteousness I shall see your face; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with seeing your likeness” (Psalm 17:15)
One of the defining aspects we see in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ is that He began the day with prayer. “Very early in the morning while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35). As he was always surrounded by crowds and after such a busy day before of preaching and engaging the Pharisees in debates this must have been a therapeutic moment for Christ when he would have some good time to himself.
But there was also more. For Jesus being away in a secluded place would also mean a chance to pour out His heart to God, meditate in quietness, plan for the day ahead and listen to the Father. Jesus must have looked up to this moment every day knowing its benefits. Conversations with His Father must have been real and intimate, bringing a certain soothing and uplifting of His spirit. You do not wake up and stick to something on a daily basis that is a drag – this must have been his best time of the day!
Martin Luther the leader of the protestant reformation is reputed to once have said, “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” Here is the point. In the olden days before the arrival of locomotive transport those who were setting out for a long journey on foot had to start early with the first cock crow before the punishing sun came out. One of the things they had to start with also was a good meal, which was fuel needed to give them energy through the long walk to their destiny.
There are no rules about waking up to pray as first thing- or even saying prayer at a defined hour of the day. God is everywhere and ever with us. He is accessible at any time of the day. But there is something special about prioritizing our lives that the first thing we do is to talk to God. Just like the early traveller we need fuel, for the long day ahead!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, what a joy and privilege to make time at the start of any day, talk and hear from you, for the power I need through the day, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
