Day 7: Honesty and integrity
But one of [Jesus’] disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray Him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it (John 12:4-6).
Sovereign, omnipotent God, Nothing in all creation is hidden from Your sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account (Hebrews 4:13). You know the secrets of the heart (Psalm 44:21).
Scripture paints a strong contrast between those who walk in integrity—Light shines on the righteous and joy on the upright in heart (Psalm 97:11)—and those greedy for unjust gain—The greedy bring ruin to their households, but the one who hates bribes will live (Proverbs 15:27).
Prior to the events that were to take place in the Garden of Gethsemane, the Lord Jesus, in prayer with the Father, referred to Judas as the son of perdition (John 17:12 -NKJV). You knew, God, what was going on deep within—the greed, the lust after gain that brewed in his heart.
None of it was hidden from You—the lack of honesty and integrity that opened his soul to compromise and to evil. The same root of greed and dishonesty that led him to help himself to the money bag, would later lead him to betray his friend and his Lord for thirty pieces of silver.
It is a sobering thought, Lord, that we have perhaps betrayed You for less. It is against You that we sin in all the areas of dishonesty and compromise in our lives. Forgive us, and deliver us from the subtle and overt evils of greed, covetousness, and idolatry or the lust after things.
All around us are enticements to wanting, and acquiring, and possessing and consuming. Deliver us from the tentacles of constant want, so that we do not abandon ourselves to greed. Deliver us from the evil of possessing that would lead us to betray our Lord. Deliver us from temptations that open our souls to escalating evil and compromise. Deliver us from destroying ourselves for want of honesty and integrity.
Comments