Don't Choose Money Over the Saviour
- Baptist Daily Devotional
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Rev. Charles Oppong-Poku | April 13 2025 | Luke 22:1-6
KEY VERSE: ”They were delighted and agreed to give him money. He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.” Luke 22:5-6 (NIV)
MESSAGE:
As the shadow of the cross draws near during Lent, Luke 22:5-6 brings us face to face with the tragedy of betrayal. Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples who had walked with Jesus, chose money over the Saviour. He trades the priceless presence of Jesus for a handful of coins. This heartbreaking exchange confronts us with a sobering situation - a friend turns into a foe - not by force, but by choice. Lent invites us to reflect on Judas’s betrayal and examine our hearts for any compromises that might grieve the One who gave His life for us. The key verses reveal that Betrayal often begins with a bargain, the enemy seeks the weakest moment, and no amount of silver is worth a stained soul.
This passage is a sober reminder of how the lure of worldly gain - symbolised by Judas’ love for money—can lead us to compromise our relationship with Jesus Christ. “Money” here represents anything we value more than Him: success, pride, comfort, or hidden sin. Lent challenges us to examine our hearts and ask: what are we treasuring more than Jesus Christ? “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (Mark 8:36).
Judas’s betrayal didn’t begin momentarily - it resulted from a compromised heart. Sin often grows silently in the shadows of our thoughts long before it surfaces in action. Lent is a call to confess and cleanse even the hidden places of our hearts. Judas later learned that no earthly gain is worth losing one's soul. In this sacred season, we are reminded to guard our hearts and re-center our lives on the cross, treasuring Jesus Christ above all. The Scripture admonishes: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (Proverbs 4:23).
FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:
What “money” are you tempted to value more than Jesus Christ today? Are there any hidden sins or attitudes you need to surrender this Lent? Remember: what we gain through compromise is never worth what we lose—peace, joy, spiritual clarity, and fellowship with God.
PRAYER:
Dear Lord Jesus, help me to see the worthlessness of anything I am tempted to put before You. Forgive me for the times I chose comfort, pride, or sin over Your presence. This Lent, cleanse my heart. Let me treasure You as my greatest reward. For Your dear Name’s sake. Amen.
THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!
The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 103: Deuteronomy 32 — The Song of Moses
DAILY word study: MONEY
The word money comes from the Latin moneta, originally referring to the Roman mint. Biblically, the Greek word used in this context is argurion (ἀργύριον), meaning "silver" or "silver coin."
In Luke 22, the religious leaders were delighted to offer Judas money in exchange for his betrayal. This wasn’t merely about coins—it was about misplaced value. Money, neutral in itself, becomes dangerous when it displaces what is sacred. Jesus warned, “You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24) because money often becomes a false master, offering control, power, or comfort instead of trust in Christ.
Reflection: Money is not just currency—it can represent what we crave, pursue, and prioritize. Lent invites us to examine what we are willing to exchange for Christ—and whether our treasure still rests in Him alone.
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