Stock markets got you down these days?
“Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth; that he may confirm his covenant which he swore to your fathers, as at this day. And if you forget the Lord your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I solemnly warn you this day that you shall surely perish.” (Deuteronomy 8:17-19)
God says in no uncertain terms that the power to gain wealth is from him, and not of ourselves. God also warns against the danger wealth can bring, which is a turning away from God.
The Bible also tells us this, “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money; nor he who loves wealth, with gain: this is also vanity. When goods increase, they increase who eat them; and what gain has their owner but to see them with his eyes.” (Ecclesiastes 5:10-11)
“There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy upon men: a man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honour, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them; this is vanity; it is a sore affliction.” (Ecclesiastes 6:1-2)
One of the multitude said to Jesus, “Teacher, bid my brother divide the inheritance with me.” But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or divider over you?” And he said to them, “Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.’
“But God said to him, “Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’
“So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:13-21)
Jesus warns us that the wealth God gives to us, whether much or little, comes with a responsibility, and also a consequence if that responsibility is not carried out. We are all given choices to make with the assets lent to us.
Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:21)
And Jesus also said, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matthew 6:24)
How do we know no one can serve two masters?
“Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. (Matthew 26:14-15)
“When Judas, his betrayer, saw that he (Jesus) was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, “I have sinned in betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” And throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself.” (Matthew 27”3-5)
Though few, these verses record for us the worst betrayal in human history, and which the Bible calls, “…the lordly price at which I was paid off by them.”
To this day, the names Judas and Iscariot are synonymous with betrayal, and the events associated with the consequence of the love of money.
Why did the betrayal occur?
To fulfill this prophecy given centuries earlier to Zechariah the prophet.
“Then I said to them, “If it seems right to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” And they weighed out as my wages thirty shekels of silver. Then the Lord said to me, “Cast it into the treasury” ---the lordly price at which I was paid off by them. So I took the thirty shekels of silver and cast them into the treasury in the house of the Lord.” (Zechariah 11:12-13)
If you haven't yet perceived, these words spoken by God, “…the lordly price at which I was paid off by them.” were said in the first person... five centuries before these words were written about Jesus, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning." (John 1:1-2)
In Zechariah’s prophecy, the specific word wages was said regarding the thirty shekels of silver, and Paul warns us, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
Life is never less than making choices, and God makes this clear, “…I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live.” (Deuteronomy 30:19)
Judas’s betrayal occurred in those immediate days preceding the most significant Passover in history, the one that fulfilled the first Passover.
And concerning Passover, God said, “This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations you shall observe it as an ordinance for ever.” (Exodus 12:14)
Passover this year will begin at sundown on April12th.
The Oddblock Station Agent
