Covetousness and Greed Will Lead to Ruin if Indulged

Christ Triumphant - A Devotional by E.G. White

Covetousness and Greed Will Lead to Ruin if Indulged

Today's Text: Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. John 13:21

The Message:      The disciples had searched one another's faces closely as they asked, "Lord, is it I?" Until now Judas had sat silent, as if unconcerned. Now his silence drew all eyes to him. To escape the scrutiny of the disciples, he nerved himself to ask, as they had done, "Master, is it I?" Jesus solemnly replied, "Thou hast said."...      Even now Judas could have acknowledged his guilt, even now broken the spell upon him. Christ was close beside him, ready to aid him. But his pride and the temptation of the enemy were so strong that he had no power to escape from the snare. Instead of casting himself upon the mercy of a compassionate Saviour, he braced himself in resistance....      The history of Judas presents the sad ending of a life that might have been honored of God.... Judas had himself solicited a place in the inner circle of disciples. With great earnestness and apparent sincerity he declared, "Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest."...      The disciples were anxious that Judas should become one of their number. He was a man of commanding appearance, a man of keen discernment and executive ability, and they commended him to Jesus as one who would greatly assist Him in His work.      The face of Judas was not repulsive. It was keen and intelligent, but it lacked the tenderness and compassion that is seen in a truly converted person.... In ministering to others, Judas might have developed an unselfish spirit. But though listening daily to the lessons of Christ, and witnessing His unselfish life, Judas indulged his covetous disposition....      Christ read his heart, and in His teaching He dwelt upon the principles of benevolence that strike at the very root of covetousness. He presented before Judas the heinous character of greed, and many a time the disciple realized that his character had been portrayed and his sin pointed out. But he did not confess and forsake his unrighteousness. He was self-sufficient, and instead of resisting temptation he continued to follow his fraudulent practices....      Though Jesus knew Judas from the beginning, He washed his feet. And the betrayer was privileged to unite with Christ in partaking of the sacrament.... To him had been offered the bread of life and the water of salvation. To him the Saviour's lesson had been given. But Judas refused to be benefited.-Manuscript 106, 1903.

Commentary: My friend, the end result of pride and covetousness is rejection of Christ.  Judas had the opportunity to see his true condition before God, but he refused to humble himself and confess his sin.  Though he believe that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God, he resisted the Spirit of God and that night, the Spirit of God was withdrawn from him never to return. Today the same battle is being played out in the hearts and minds of the people of God.  The message from Jesus, the Faithful and True Witness, is "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:" (Revelation 3:15-18).  Jesus is revealing to His people that He knows their works; He knows their true spiritual condition before God.  The people are lukewarm, meaning that their condition is sickening to Him.  The think that they are righteous but they are not.  They have a form of godliness, but are in reality wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. Their condition is a result of their acceptance and worship of the false god of the trinity.  They are blind to their condition because the trinity has the outward form of God, but is not.  Thus they are deceived.  Through this message to the Laodicean church, He reveals to them their true condition before God, and offers them gold tried in the fire, white raiment that they may be clothed, and eye salve that they may see.  But in order for them to receive this, they must see and accept their true condition.  Jesus says "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:19, 20). Jesus is depicted as standing at the door of the hearts of His people, when He should be in the midst of them.  Why is He on the outside and not on the inside?  Because the church has accepted and is worshiping the false god of the trinity, and unless we invite Him in by confession and zealous repentance, He will finally be forced to spew us out of His mouth, meaning that He will not confess our names before His Father. My friend, now is the time for us to heed the final warning of the Faithful and True Witness.  Unless we do this, like Judas, the Spirit of God will leave us never to return. May you open the door of your heart to Jesus, the only begotten Son of God today. God bless,

Video of the Week Biblical Monotheism - Part 3 by Imad Awde What does the Bible say about God's Oneness? Is the one God of the Bible made up of three Persons? If the Father is God, and Jesus is God, how come there is only one God? Join Imad as he answers these questions and more in this three part series,