"The Cost of Our Redemption: Judas -- Wealth"
March 24/02 Palm/Passion Sunday
Jn.12:1-7; Mt.26:14-16
A) Judas: Victim of Greed's Treachery?
(video clip: Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss, Lk.2:47f)
What a strange way to signal to a person's enemies that he's the one to arrest -- by a kiss! How perverse that a sign of affection should become a sign of treachery; popularized in our time by mob families giving the so-called "kiss of death". Who is this man who betrays the loving Rabbi he's accompanied for three years? What motives drive him to this treachery? In our "murder mystery" investigation of Jesus' death, we've been examining suspects to determine "whodunnit". Is Judas the most guilty party? Or is he an unwitting pawn in a scheme crafted by another mastermind? Judas accumulated three strikes against himself that point him out as a prime suspect in our investigation.
First, there was his opposition to Jesus being anointed at Bethany. Although the fragrance from the nard perfume filled the house when Mary anointed Jesus' feet, the beautiful scene was shattered by Judas protesting that the perfume was worth a small fortune, and should have been sold and the money given to the poor (Jn.12:4). Jesus defended Mary's loving deed, but the damage was done. Judas had opened his mouth and raised a big stink where before there'd been a sweet aroma.
John notes that Judas didn't really care for the poor, but was a thief. In charge of the disciples' funds, he often took some for his own use, skimming off the top. Here we spot two sins that eventually do Judas in: covetousness, or greed, always wanting more for oneself; and deceit, trickery. Judas had a tidy little scam operation going, and if he was aware some of the others were wise to it, he didn't let that stop him.
The second strike against Judas was that the anointing ticked him off so much he went to the Jewish authorities and asked what they'd pay him to betray Jesus to them. They gave him thirty pieces of silver, about four months' wages for an average worker - not a bad sum!(Mk.14:10) He became their infiltrator, looking for the right time and place to hand over his man. We see again covetousness coupled with deceit. Judas was looking to take advantage of the situation for his own ends; he wanted to get ahead, even at the cost of this so-called Messiah. What Judas didn't realize was that he was fulfilling prophecy by his actions. (Ps.41:9; Zech.11:12f)
The third strike came when Judas actually betrayed Jesus to his opposition. He led a mob to the spot where Christ often went with his disciples, and then indicated the target by coming up and kissing him. Our Lord can't help noting the irony of the gesture, saying, "Judas, how can you betray me, the Son of Man, with a kiss?" (Lk.22:47f) Jesus wasn't fooled by Judas' craftiness. Just think, though - a kiss. How could Judas have the gall to actually come up and embrace the very man he was handing over to certain punishment?
Perhaps he justified it to himself as "just keeping his end of the bargain"..."taking care of business"...He couldn't resist the clink of the pieces of silver calling him forward to his own security, his own little nest egg, laid up against the foolishness of this hare-brained "coming Kingdom of God" talk. Wealth would be the key to his health, he thought, not this wishy-washy love-your-neighbour, turn-the-other-cheek philosophy. No, Judas would have agreed with those who say, "If you want to get ahead in this life, you've got to look out for number one." "God helps those who help themselves."
Three strikes -- you're out! Hardly has Judas lain down to catch some shuteye before starting his new life without Jesus, than doubts begin arising in his mind. Having used Judas as a pawn in his plan to destroy the Saviour, Satan leaves him as quickly as he entered him. Leaves him to the taunts and jeers of lesser demons who whisper that he's been had. Judas can find no sleep. The thirty pieces of silver bear silent witness to his involvement in a monstrous crime. Next morning, upon hearing that Jesus is condemned to death, he takes the blood money back to the conspirators at the temple. "I've sinned!" he cries, "for I have betrayed an innocent man." (Mt.27:4) The chief priests and other leaders show no more sympathy than the demonic voices which have been haunting and accusing Judas all night. "What do we care?" they respond; "that's your problem.It's your responsibility." (Mt.27:3f) That was the last thing Judas wanted to hear. Seized with remorse, he flung the bag of money onto the floor of the Temple and went out to hang himself. Satan must have chortled to see the dupe he had so recently used self-destruct. Judas the traitor fell victim to greed's own treachery. Greed never delivers all it promises; coveting never satisfies. Judas would never enjoy any benefit from the thirty pieces of silver. Like Caiaphas seeking to preserve religious custom, and Peter running for security, Judas had been let down miserably by the desire for wealth - another of Satan's counterfeits for the real satisfaction Jesus offers.
Might not Judas be the patron saint of our society? He was taken over, consumed by something larger than himself - greed, coveting, that was deceitful. Is not this the theme of our culture, selling our soul for thirty pieces of silver and yet never fully enjoying the promised reward? Our consumer society is the "consumed" society, driven by greed to trade off our integrity for material wealth, "keeping up with the Joneses", looking out for number one.
A PBS TV program "Affluenza" addresses what it calls the "modern-day plague of materialism". The program claims: The average American shops six hours a week while spending 40 minutes playing with their children; By age 20, we've seen one million commercials; in 90% of divorce cases, arguments about money play a prominent role. The program doesn't argue against materialism on a moral basis but a practical one: Material wealth doesn't make us happy. Greed is a traitor, it'll betray you like Judas; silver is sly.
Someone (South) has said, "The covetous person lives as if the world were made altogether for him, and not he for the world; to take in everything, and part with nothing." Kind of a walking "black hole"!
Remember Jacqueline Kennedy married the ultra-rich Aristotle Onassis? Jacqueline's daughter Caroline observed, "Happiness is not based on money.And the best proof of that is our family."
But we needn't get sucked into greed's trap. Coveting will let us down every time, but Jesus Christ offers a satisfaction that is ours for keeps. Holiness preacher Bud Robinson was taken by friends to New York and shown around the city. That night in his prayers he said, "Lord, I thank you for letting me see all the sights of New York. And I thank You most of all that I didn't see a thing that I wanted!"
B) Jesus' Investment Advice: Giving's Great Rewards
Jesus had a lot to say about money and possessions. Out of 38 parables Jesus told in the gospels, 16 deal with how we handle our money. He said more about money and possessions than about heaven and hell combined. The key word seems to be "give"; he wanted His followers to discover the wonderful rewards that come from a generous, giving attitude. For instance: "It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20:35) "Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Mark 8:35-37) In other words, we find true life in giving it away, losing it for His sake. It's folly to gain the world but lose your soul. We're used to a fluctuating exchange rate on the Canadian dollar, but there is absolutely NO exchange rate in the market of your soul: once it's gone, there's no getting it back.
Jesus also said, "Freely you have received, freely give." (Matthew 10:8) "Give, and it will be given to you.A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap." (Luke 6:38) He told a wealthy young man, "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." (Mark 10:21) He even declared, "Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:33)
Giving is essential to the Christian, for love's direction is to give rather than get. "God so LOVED the world that He GAVE His only-begotten Son..." (Jn.3:16) Paul sums up the pattern of Christ's life this way: "You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich." (2 Corinthians 8:9) He gave away His riches so that we sinful beggars could be forgiven through receiving Him as Saviour and Lord, and so come to enjoy His Kingdom and righteousness.
Paul's letter to the Ephesians often talks about grace in terms of the "riches" that have been given to us in Christ. For example: "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding." (Ephesians 1:7-8) "This grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ..." (Ephesians 3:8) "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being..." (Ephesians 3:16) "To each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.This is why it says: 'When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.'" (Ephesians 4:7-8) We have a supernatural source of supply, to renew and strengthen us.
Paul was liberated from coveting by discovering the secret of contentment in Jesus, as he writes in Philippians 4(11-13,19): "...I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.I can do everything through him who gives me strength...And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Enjoying true eternal abundance of life in Christ frees us from discontentment and coveting. What Jesus offers is better than the alternative Judas died chasing.
C) Practical Steps to Escape Coveting's "Kiss of Death"
Sounds good; but how can we make it our "own"? What are some practical ways to avoid Judas' pitfall of greed, longing for more riches to the point of betraying our Lord?
1) Real-ize God's Ownership, Our Stewardship
A pastor stood one Sunday with an announcement for his congregation. "I've got good news and bad news," he said. "The good news is, we have enough money to pay for our new building program.The bad news is, it's still out there in your pockets."
That's a startling way of putting it, but the reality is that what's in our pockets doesn't actually belong to us. As faithful Christians, by rights we should in our minds bring each paycheque we receive, all the profit from our business, and lay it on the altar before God. It doesn't belong to us, it never did. As the traditional offertory puts it, "All that we have is Thine alone, a trust, O Lord, from Thee."
Not just our money, but even we don't belong to ourselves. God's Word on the subject is this: "You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) "...whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord." (Romans 14:8) "...offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God— this is your spiritual act of worship." (Romans 12:1) We "belong to Christ" (Mk.9:41; Rom.8:9; 1Cor.3:23; Gal.3:29; 5:24) -- lock, stock & barrel. The goods we handle in this life are not ours permanently. Listen carefully: Jesus said, "If you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?" (Luke 16:11-12) This world's wealth is someone else's property, namely Almighty God. Covetousness is idolatry (Col.3:5), because the coveter is buying the lie that this "thing" (whatever it is) alone can truly satisfy us, rather than the Lord. So a proper attitude toward money and possessions begins with picturing in our mind, real-izing visually, that God owns everything: we own nothing. We depend upon Him to provide our needs and life's meaning. If Jesus is Lord, we belong to Him, and so do our wallets and purses.
2) Jumpstart Generosity: Try Tithing
Okay, so your paycheque is there on the altar. It all belongs to God. How much does He entrust to us for our day-to-day purposes? The Law of Moses teaches that one-tenth, the "tithe", belongs to the Lord (Lev.27:30). This is reinforced in Malachi 3(8-10): ""Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me." But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ "In tithes and offerings.You are under a curse— the whole nation of you— because you are robbing me.Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it."" Taking any more than 9/10 of our paycheque off the altar is robbing God; conversely, the Lord promises that if we're obedient in this, He'll bless us right out of our boots.
"Ah, but that's Old Testament," someone objects. Check out the Sermon on the Mount and you'll see Jesus always raised the spiritual bar, He never lowered it. He told the Pharisees they ought not neglect their tithing (Mt.23:23). He commended the poor widow for putting in all she had to live on (Lk.21:3). For New Testament people, the tithe is a minimum; the standard is Christ, who though rich became poor for us. Reinhold Niebuhr's guideline was "proportionate giving, with tithing as an economic floor beneath which you will not go unless there are some compelling reasons." We don't want to be robbing God by taking more than 9/10 off the altar.
A Barna research report states, "One-third of born again adults said they tithed in 2000, but a comparison of their actual giving and household incomes reveals that only one-eighth did so." Don't be like Ananias and Sapphira, who pretended to give more than they actually did! Randy Alcorn writes, "Some say, 'We'll take this gradually.We're starting with 5%.' But that's like saying, 'I used to rob six convenience stores a year. This year, by His grace, I'm going to rob only three.' The point is not to rob God less -- it's to not rob God at all...When people tell me they can't afford to tithe, I ask them, 'If your income was reduced by 10% would you die?' They say, 'No.' And I say, 'Then you've admitted that you can afford to tithe. It's just that you don't want to.'"
Mike Murdock has said, "God established a system that would destroy the possibility of greed: the tithe...Tithing is the proof that you have mastered fear...When you write out a check for 10% of your income each week and give it back to God, it documents your faith in God.It is proof of your confidence.You really do believe that His Word works." He describes three kinds of atheists: (1) those who believe that God does not even exist; (2) Those who believe they're capable of doing anything God could do; and (3) those who consider themselves as god in their own life. Murdock concludes, "A non-tither's position is like the atheist - they keep the tithe.They feel that they are their own god in their own life.It is the ultimate proof of arrogance and pride."
So if your giving patterns need a jumpstart, try tithing. It's a beginning, a benchmark God promises to bless.
3) Your Budget becomes a Faith Statement
If you don't already have a budget, do not pass go, do not collect $200 until you get one. A budget is a faith statement, like saying a creed, because in it you're saying how you intend to be a steward of what God entrusts to you. The Lord expects us to be intentional and purposeful in all our spending. The New Testament advice is: "On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income..." (1 Corinthians 16:2) And, "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:6-7) The discipline of setting a budget and then living by it helps us be decisive about managing the wealth in our care, intentional about goals for tithes and offerings. A budget is a safety harness when we're tempted to buy something we don't really need on the spur of the moment.
Richard Foster writes: "As a young man, John Wesley calculated that 28 pounds a year (about $65) would care for his own needs. Since prices remained basically the same, he was able to keep at that level of expenditure throughout his lifetime. When Wesley first made that decision, his income was 30 pounds a year. In later years sales from his books would often earn him 1400 pounds a year, but he still lived on 28 pounds and gave the rest away. Wesley, of course, was single much of his life and never had children, so he did not deal with the financial problems engendered by a family; but the idea is a sound one. We can do the same thing. Obviously we have to make adjustments for growing children, savings for college, and inflation, but the principle remains firm."
4) Watch for Ways to "Send it on ahead"
It's not that Jesus doesn't want us to store up treasure; He just wants us to store it up in the right place. He counsels us to store up treasure in heaven, where it's safe from moth and rust and thieves, not on earth where it's all going to wind up in the dump or passed on to others some day (Mt.6:19f). He advises us to "Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted..." (Luke 12:33) Scripture tells those with wealth to "lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life" (1 Timothy 6:19). Paul tells the Philippians it's not that he's looking for a gift, but looking for what may be "credited" to their "account". (Philippians 4:17) What account's he talking about? Not an account at the local bank, but your heavenly account. Jesus promised the fellow if he gave to the poor, "You will have treasure in heaven." (Mk.10:21)
Randy Alcorn describes it as living for the "line" instead of the "dot". He writes: "Our lives have two phases: one a dot, the other a line extending out from that dot.Our present life on earth is the dot.It begins.It ends.It's brief.But from that dot extends a line that goes on forever.That line is eternity...Right now we're living in the dot. But what are we living for? The shortsighted person lives for the dot.The person with perspective lives for the line."
Jesus said that where our treasure is, there our heart will be also (Mt.6:21). As we give, we discover the Lord shares His excitement with us about what our money is going to accomplish for His Kingdom. Randy Alcorn writes: "Every spring my wife and I read through dozens of letters from people in our church who are going on summer missions trips. This year we received 45 requests asking us to pray and contribute financially. When this time comes each year, I'm like a kid in a candy store -- a candy store as big as the world, as big as the heart of God. Why such excitement? Because we get to hear the stories and read the emails. We see the enthusiasm, the growth, the kingdom-mindedness, the changed priorities. We gain vested interest in more facets of God's work around the world. We pray that those who go -- as well as those to whom they go -- will never be the same. And we will have had a part in it!"
Ray Berryman is CEO for a national municipal services firm. He and his wife give at least half their income to God's work each year. Ray says, "My joy in giving comes from serving God in a way that I know He's called me to and realizing that what I give is impacting people for Christ.It's exciting to know we're part of evangelizing, discipling, helping, and feeding the needy. It just feels wonderful and fulfilling." As we give more, we discover delight in giving - a delight God shares with us. Let's pray.