“Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You do not withhold anything from us, You take care of us fully. We commit ourselves into Your loving hands and in Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.”
Acts 1:18-20 (Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out. (19) And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.) (20) “For it is written in the Book of Psalms: “For it is written in the Book of Psalms: ‘Let his dwelling place be desolate, And let no one live in it’; and, ‘Let another take his office.’
This is the terrible end of the life of Judas. The problem for Judas was His greed for money or the wages of unrighteousness. This is what destroyed Judas. Sadly, though we know the story of Judas and its terrible end, we do not seem to learn our lessons. When we look at our world today, we see the chaos, the suffering and the desolation that is happening the world over and yet man is not willing to accept that this is all caused by the greed for money in the heart of man. The Lord longs for man to come to Him and be in His refuge and in His rest. He is our Keeper and He watches over us. He longs for us to stop chasing the material blessings of this world and be in Him. II Peter 2:3 “By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.” Their destruction does not slumber. This is the end for those who are given to covetousness.
Jeremiah 7:12-14 “But go now to My place which was in Shiloh, where I set My name at the first, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of My people Israel. (13) And now, because you have done all these works,” says the Lord, “and I spoke to you, rising up early and speaking, but you did not hear, and I called you, but you did not answer, (14) therefore I will do to the house which is called by My name, in which you trust, and to this place which I gave to you and your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh.” The Lord had repeatedly warned His people not to fall into this greed for money but His people did not respond to God. They forsook God but set up for themselves places and forms as a replacement for God.
Man does not want to be surrendered to the lordship of Christ. People who do not know God are chasing after money as their refuge. We can understand this matter but it is the people of God, who know Him and have tasted His ways, who are greedy for money. This is what is very painful to the heart of God. The bitter end that comes to the people of the world, who are greedy for money will also happen to the people who are called by the name of Jesus, but in their hearts, nurture the greed and love for money.
Matthew 23:37-39 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! (38) See! Your house is left to you desolate; (39) for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” God is expressing the pain of His heart. He longs to be the Shelter and the Provider for His people. His people needed to come to Him in total submission but they would not. When His people forsake Him for the greed for money, their end will be unpleasant.
Ezekiel 33:31-33 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. (32) Indeed you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they do not do them. (33) And when this comes to pass—surely it will come—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.” Those words cause a chill to run down our spine. The warning was given, again and again, to the people of God, not to chase after money but the warning was not heeded. When the terrible end takes place, it will be too late.
“We need to make a decision today to let go of this love for money and turn and be surrendered wholly to the Lord.”