DATE: August 10, 2020
BY: Pastor Bob Miller
CHAPTER READ: John 12
SCRIPTURE SELECTED: John 12:4-6
4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.[b
]” 6 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.
OBSERVATION: Mary has just anointed Jesus with an expensive perfume, about a year’s worth of wages, and the fragrance has filled the house. One of those who reacted to this extravagant expression of love was Judas. He raised a valid question. Wouldn’t it have been better to sell it and care for the poor? But we are told his concern wasn’t to care for the poor but rather, he was looking out for himself. Behind his criticism was a selfish heart.
APPLICATION: Judas wasn’t alone in his criticism…how often do we find ourselves following in his footsteps. He had put up a valid excuse to disguise and cover-up his own self centered heart. When we find ourselves feeling critical of the actions others have taken, we need to look into our own heart before we vocalize our criticism. It just might be rooted in selfishness and it stinks!
PRAYER: Jesus, protect my heart from being critical of others. May I recognize and let you deal with my own heart when my motives are self-centered. Help me to be quick to offer praise rather than criticism. Amen
I like the way you simply use the phrase “it stinks” to describe our cover-ups and poor attitude. It is an easy way to remember when we need to check our motives: do they stink or are they sweet?
So true!