The Man Judas #2

The Lord said to me…”I will test my people with a Plumbline, Amos 7:8 (TLB)

The Plumbline is a blog to bring hope and encourage to the Body of Christ.

The Man Judas #2

In our last study we saw an ugly side of Judas.  Let’s look at our focus passage.  5 "Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the moneybox; and he used to take what was put in it. John 12:5-6 (NKJV)

Judas exhibits a mind-blowing selfishness that emerges from his heart in regard to Mary’s offering. The Bible gives a clear explanation of Judas’ heart. This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the moneybox; and he used to take what was put in it. (Verse: 6). Talk about speaking the truth. So much for, so called, “political correctness”. The Word identifies Judas as non-caring of the poor and a thief to boot. Judas pretended to be thinking about others while he was really thinking of no one but himself.

Romans 8:5-8 (NKJV) 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Paul describes two classes of people: those that live according to the sinful nature and those who live according to the Spirit.

(1) The sinful nature means one is occupied with its desires, thoughts, emotions and physical gratification. This includes sexual immorality, adultery, hatred, selfish ambition, outbursts of anger and so forth (see Gal 5:19-21), but also drug addiction, obscenity, pornographic pleasures from sex scenes in plays, books, magazines, TV, movies videos, the internet etc. Paul proclaims this sinful nature must be crucified and put to death. Otherwise the carnally minded faces death.

(2) To live in accordance with the Spirit is seek and submit to the Holy Spirit’s direction and enablement, and to focus one’s attention, thoughts, energy and values on the things of God. It is to live consciously at all times in God’s presence, trusting him to give us help and grace we need to accomplish his will in and through us.

Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, ends up thinking more about self than God. That person ignores who God is and what he is doing. Romans 8:7 (MSG)

Selfishness always tries to get the attention off of the selfish as did Judas and onto to “extravagance” of others. Selfishness is the destroyer and crippler of the spiritual man.