This person wants power. They will sell their souls to get it, no matter who is pushed down through spreading gossip about others who might be more qualified to do the job. They lie on the ground, defeated, in their attack by this person. Collateral damage. The job is not even put up on the board, but this person is pushing and shoving, elbowing everyone who gets in the way, pulling ahead of the pack to achieve this goal of getting more power and prestige.

Was it worth it? There is a saying, “Be careful how you treat people on the way to the top because you will never know who you will meet on the way down.” Is this God’s way of thinking?

This is worldview. Judas fell for worldview. He was used as a pawn to get to Jesus by a powerful religious lot who would do anything to retain their worldly power and prestige. Judas, who wanted power, too, fell for their scheme. He was probably treated well by his manipulators…until the end. When they got what they wanted, they had no use for Judas. It destroyed him. He destroyed himself. Was it worth it?

Matthew 27, The Message
Thirty Silver Coins
27 1-2 In the first light of dawn, all the high priests and religious leaders met and put the finishing touches on their plot to kill Jesus. Then they tied him up and paraded him to Pilate, the governor.

3-4 Judas, the one who betrayed him, realized that Jesus was doomed. Overcome with remorse, he gave back the thirty silver coins to the high priests, saying, “I’ve sinned. I’ve betrayed an innocent man.”

They said, “What do we care? That’s your problem!”

5 Judas threw the silver coins into the Temple and left. Then he went out and hung himself.

6-10 The high priests picked up the silver pieces, but then didn’t know what to do with them. “It wouldn’t be right to give this—a payment for murder!—as an offering in the Temple.” They decided to get rid of it by buying the “Potter’s Field” and use it as a burial place for the homeless. That’s how the field got called “Murder Meadow,” a name that has stuck to this day. Then Jeremiah’s words became history:

They took the thirty silver pieces,
The price of the one priced by some sons of Israel,
And they purchased the potter’s field.
And so they unwittingly followed the divine instructions to the letter.

God knows who will sin. He does not cause sin. It is not in His nature. But he provides a way out of sin. Jesus.

The upside-down kingdom as taught by Jesus Christ is not to plow over everyone in your way to power. It has nothing to do with your power and strength and everything to do with Jesus the Christ, the only way to salvation, to eternal life, to blessings undeserved, to living a life with peace through all kinds of trials. It is not climbing to the top, imagine a triangle with the base at the bottom, that’s worldview.

Now, imagine an upside-down triangle with the base at the top.) You begin with Jesus who saves you. You become co-heirs with HIM! We live life with Jesus, for Jesus and for others. He sends us to tell others, we come alongside others with what we now know about Him, even though we don’t know it all. Jesus enlarges His territory in and through us, spreading out to others, reaching and giving. The base is at the top, with all the people in the world who God loves and who He wants to have in relationship. Jesus came to save a lost world, you and me, with power and might, in an upside down kingdom way. HIS WAY is worth it all!

Dear Heavenly Father, We love you, we understand how Judas could fall for the promise of power and the gain of money. Evil hits where we are most venerable. Judas loved money more than His Master. Don’t let us fall for these ploys. And help us lift others up and through these same kinds of trials by pointing them always to You and Your upside down kingdom ways. You came to save and to serve. You taught us to love you back with all that is within us and to love and serve others, too. We serve you by serving others. Thank you for your teaching that breathes clean life to the full and refreshes our souls. Continue to teach and guide us. Because we know that in the end, it will be worth it all! In Jesus Name, Amen

And I’m singing…

It will be worth it all when we see Jesus
Life’s trials will seem so small
When we see Christ
One glimpse of His dear face
All sorrow will erase
So, bravely run the race
‘Til we see Christ!