Covetousness Crucified Jesus

by Terry Wane Benton

The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil (I Timothy 6:10). We think little of Judas for selling Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. But is Judas worse for being there at the time, while we sell Jesus in other ways? What have we sold him for? A Job that keeps us away from fellowship and communion? Some just have to get away to the lake on the Lord’s Day, making our covetousness more important than fellowship with Him and His people. We cannot make Judas the bad guy when we do similar things. Can we? Yes! Covetousness and materialism overruled the love for Christ in Judas’ case, but have we sold Jesus out for equal or less?

Jesus would not have been crucified except that Judas made a decision that he wanted money more than he wanted Jesus. Covetousness overrules in more hearts than just in Judas. When we don’t want the kingdom of Jesus and His church to be first (Matthew 6:33), and desire material pursuits more, have we not sold Jesus out? Covetousness and materialism often win the heart over Jesus. Our affections should be on things above and not on things of the earth (Colossians 3:1f), but like Judas, we will realize it was not worth the tradeoff. He could not live with himself after he held the money in his hand and really thought about what he had just done.

We, too, will realize we made a foolish trade. We will see ourselves reflected in the foolishness of Judas. Covetousness crucified Jesus. Has that been your value system? Were you there when they crucified the Lord?