“THE DANGER OF THE LOVE OF MONEY”

3 So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons.”

John 18:3

Some of the loneliest people in the world include those who are financially affluent. Their unbridled desire for greater wealth takes them to the grave much faster than they expected.

In our last blog, we learned that Jesus had to go through extreme emotional torment leading up to His arrest.

I want to draw some conclusions from today’s verse.

The love of money, when not controlled, can lead to murderous intentions.

We know who Judas really is. For three years, he played the part of a good-willed treasurer—but Jesus knew what was in Judas’ heart. Satan knew Judas’ weakness and used it to destroy the poor man and accomplish his evil purpose. Judas was well aware of Jesus’ habits and whereabouts, so he used that knowledge for his personal gain. While he followed Christ, his intentions weren’t always pure. Money was what mattered to him.

Let us be reminded of what the Bible says about the love of money.

10 “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”

1 Timothy 6:10

Interestingly, the term “love of money” literally means “affection for silver,” reminding us of how Judas betrayed the Lord for a lousy 30 pieces of silver. I used the term “lousy” because 30 pieces of silver were the minimum price for a slave (see Exodus 21:32). During that time, you could buy a slave for as much as 2,000 pieces of silver, especially if the slave was educated and previously accomplished. The fact that Judas sold Jesus for 30 pieces of silver makes his betrayal all the more egregious. Despite the love Jesus had for Judas, the double-crosser showed how immensely he undermined that love. To those who reject Jesus, His life is of no value.

The love of money can drive a person to avarice, as we have seen in the example of Judas. It’s no wonder why the Bible commands us to steer clear of greed. When the love of money rules our hearts, we will never be satisfied. This dissatisfaction gives birth to all kinds of sins. Countless people, like Judas, have turned their backs on Jesus because they tried to find their happiness in money. Little did they know that such a feeling is temporary but the consequences of their actions are permanent and irreversible.

Let’s check our hearts and ask God to reveal our hidden sins, especially the love of money. It’s best to get rid of this sin before it gets out of control. When we trust in God, money is the least of our concerns; but when we trust money, God is our biggest problem.

Pursue the Savior today!

#PursuingTheSavior