In the New Testament, one of the saddest uses of money were the thirty pieces of silver that Judas agreed to take from the religious leaders to betray Jesus. Theologians disagree on what this amount would be today, but values range from $100 to $3000. Regardless, certainly not a high price for the cost of a life. The odd thing about this transaction is that Jesus was walking freely out in the open among the people every day. He was not hiding. So the real key for the religious leaders was not exposure, but betrayal. For someone in his inner circle to side with them and hurt Him. But the real story for our purposes is that it was money that motivated a follower to turn over His leader who he had claimed was his Lord. Sadly, we in the human race have been taught that everything can have a price tag, including a life, even a friend.

Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent by the leading priests and elders of the people. The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: “You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss.” So Judas came straight to Jesus. “Greetings, Rabbi!” he exclaimed and gave him the kiss. Jesus said, “My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for.” Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him. (Matthew 26:47-50 NLT)

Very early in the morning the leading priests and the elders of the people met again to lay plans for putting Jesus to death. Then they bound him, led him away, and took him to Pilate, the Roman governor. When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and the elders. “I have sinned,” he declared, “for I have betrayed an innocent man.” “What do we care?” they retorted. “That’s your problem.” Then Judas threw the silver coins down in the Temple … (Matthew 27:1-5 NLT)

We must be careful that we never allow money to tempt us to place price tags on anything precious to us or God. We should never put a price on a relationship for any reason, for any amount of money. Is there a situation or relationship in your life that money is a motivator? It may not look like judas’s betrayal often it is subtle... such as in the form of job promotions, late child support checks, leadership positions, anywhere that intangibles of power and money can take precedent over people. All too often, money is in the mix and creates a distraction.

Value people. Value relationships. Value God. That is where we will always easily find Jesus.

Let’s pray: “Father God, help me to be Jesus in all my relationships, never a Judas. Help me to always keep money and price tags away from people and to value and respect relationships above all, just as You do. As above, so below.”