28th Mar 26 | 12:21
Studies by Book
Luke 22 1-6 THE HATCHING OF THE PLOT TO KILL JESUS 07 Luke 22 4-5 Root out the love for money
📖 Luke 22:1-6
*FRIEND OF GOD*
Sat03Jul2021 - *Root out the love for money* - _Luke 22:1-6_ - THE HATCHING OF THE PLOT TO KILL JESUS (07) – Bible reading: _I Timothy 6:9-10_
The Lord is showing us the deep problem of the love of money that is seen, particularly, in those who are of the faith. We must stay surrendered and submitted to Jesus, guarding our hearts against covetousness.
This was the problem of Judas Iscariot.
_Luke 22:4-5 So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. (5) And they were glad, and *agreed to give him money*._
Judas was against Jesus. Maybe he was expecting Jesus to set up the kingdom of God and oust the Romans. Whereas, Jesus’ methods and ways did not seem to be in the direction of usurping the administration. Maybe Judas became disillusioned with Jesus.
What we know about Judas from the scripture is that he was trapped in the love of money.
This is the prophecy that we read of Judas.
_Zechariah 11:12-13 Then I said to them, "If it is agreeable to you, give me my wages; and if not, refrain." So *they weighed out for my wages thirty pieces of silver*. (13) And the LORD said to me, "Throw it to the potter"—*that princely price they set on me*. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the LORD for the potter._
Judas equated thirty pieces of silver to be the value of Jesus. Sadly, that is how many of us in the body of Christ, are living our lives. It is about the benefits and advantages that we can get by coming to Jesus. *Without us knowing, we have placed a value on Jesus*.
Yes, people come to Jesus and experience healing and deliverance but a relationship with Jesus cannot be equated with the paybacks.
We must love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Coming to Jesus implies that our life is now on the altar of God, as a living sacrifice.
_Matthew 26:14-16 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests (15) and said, "*What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you*?" And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. (16) So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him._
This was Judas’ deep problem. It was the love of money that gave rise to the other issues in Judas.
_John 12:4-6 But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, who would betray Him, said, (5) “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" (6) This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but *because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it*._
The love of money or his desire for money in his heart was what made Judas be a thief and finally caused him to betray Jesus.
_I Timothy 6:9-10 But *those who desire to be rich* fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts *which drown men in destruction and perdition*._
This problem of desiring to be rich was what caused Judas to have a devastating end.
Though, we, in the church know this very well, yet, we allow this root of love of money to remain and we camouflage our choices in life by making statements such as, “for the good of my family and children”, “for being well settled”, “for a good future” etc.
Initially, it will seem as though 'we' were making our choices in life but we will soon reach the place where 'the choices' that we made, for the love of money, will dictate our lives and we will be trapped.
_(10) For *the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil*, for which some *have strayed from the faith* in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows._
*Those who do not root out the love of money from their hearts, will stray from the faith*.
_Ezekiel 33:31 So they come to you as people do, *they sit before you as My people*, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, *but their hearts pursue their own gain*._
This is the concern of God over us, His people. He sees that we are pretentious. Outwardly, we seem spiritual but God sees our hearts and there He sees our love for money. It is crucial for us to guard our hearts.
_Proverbs 4:23 *Keep your heart with all diligence*, For out of it spring the issues of life._
*Thought to ponder*
```God, not only examines our thoughts but He goes behind our thoughts and examines our motives. It is there that we need to be found pleasing to Him, not by our external activities alone.```