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This past Easter I listened to a podcast sermon about Judas' part in the betrayal of Jesus Christ. I was again challenged by the unfolding process of sin in Judas' life. The podcast preacher spent some time tracing Judas' background and exposed a pattern of attitudes and conduct towards money that led Judas down the path to betrayal and suicide.
Jesus talked about "the deceitfulness of riches" (and Judas most likely heard that teaching). Yet, despite that warning, I think Judas was deceived by the idea of getting as much money as he could. I know a range of motives have been attributed to him for what he did but, for my part, the rattle of 30 pieces of silver in his pocket exposes his primary motive regardless of what else was at work in his heart.
I wonder if Paul may have had him in mind when he wrote:
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Tim 6:10 NIV)
Then my reading this morning revolved around another Biblical character who came to a grizzly end. Samson had appetites of a different kind to Judas but they proved to be his undoing in the end.
Then she [Delilah] called, "Samson, the Philistines are upon you!" He awoke from his sleep and thought, "I'll go out as before and shake myself free." But he did not know that the LORD had left him. (Judges 16:20 NIV)
It's that last statement that gets to me. "But he did not know that the LORD had left him". (Judges 16:20 NIV). While I acknowledge that this is Old Testament theology and, under the New Testament, the Lord has promised never to leave us, I still find myself bothered by the statement.
It was tragic enough that the Lord had left him. But what I think is even more tragic is the fact that Samson didn't know that the Lord had departed! Sin that is unchecked and unforgiven exercises a very subtle influence and power in our lives.
I want to explore this further in my next log entry.
