“Then saith one of his disciples Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him. Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor.” – John 12:4-5(KJV).
Since the day of Judas who betrayed Jesus Christ for thirty pieces of silver, there have been this saying that out of every twelve persons there must be a Judas. The name Judas has become synonymous with greed and betrayal. It has become a name no parent wants to give to their son. Nonetheless there are many Judases among us today even among the Pentecostals. We have heard of brethren who dip their hand into the offering bag and cart away with God’s money. We have seen brethren in the church criticize church projects deceptively while hiding their true motive of greed. In the above passage Judas was not actually interested in the poor but his very selfish end of embezzling the common purse of the group. Someone said that when a man overcomes the spirit of money he is on his way to heaven. Most so called believers are under the influence of the god of money. We should learn from the life of Judas whose uncontrolled greed led him to betray his master for thirty pieces of silver and ended up in suicide. He was there and witness God’s mighty power that was at work in Christ. He saw the dead rise from the dead, the lame walk, the blind see, the deaf hear and Jesus walking upon the waters, yet lust for money occupied his depraved mind. How do you explain the man who has witnessed divine move and visitation of God in a mighty way and yet dip his hand in the offering money and steal from it? Nothing else but the hold of the god of money over his life. The bible says in 1 Timothy 6:10(KJV)“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows”. Money is a major determinant of where we will end up after this world. How do you see money and its uses? Is money a necessity or something you are ready to die for? It is only a man who is possessed of the demon of money that can dip his hand in God’s offering bag and steal from it. It is my prayer that whosoever is reading this piece be delivered from the entanglement of money.
Prayer: Father deliver me from the spirit of greed and money in Jesus name.
Bro. Joel Ezeugo