Thirty Pieces of Silver
Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself. ~ Matthew 27:5
What are you striving after today? What is the pursuit of your heart? What are you chasing? Is it fame or fortune? Fulfillment in relationships? Perhaps you long for a place of rest and peace, or maybe you’re filling your life with so much activity that you don’t have to think about what truly matters.
Judas struggled with deep discontentment. So much so that he believed his greatest gain would come from betraying his closest friend. Certainly, he and Jesus were close, after all, Jesus entrusted him with the ministry’s finances. Yet, Judas had a weakness for money and found himself in a place of compromise. The Gospel of John tells us that he was a thief, taking from the ministry funds for his own use.
It’s easy to condemn Judas for his actions, but how many of us are in a similar place today? We may not steal money from a ministry, but do we steal time that God has purposed for His kingdom? Do we consume resources meant for His purposes on our own desires instead? Looking back at Judas, his sin seems obvious, but it’s much harder to examine our own hearts and expose the hidden places where discontentment, compromise, or selfishness may be lurking.
Recently, I discovered something in my own heart that I knew had to change. It was the sin of complaining. At first glance, it may seem minor compared to what Judas did, but complaining is a poison. Left unchecked, it takes root, growing into bitterness and producing a harvest of discontent and ingratitude. Most of all, it places me in opposition to God, a place I never want to be.
Here is a list of ways to line up your heart with God’s purpose to keep you from pursuing the wrong things:
- Examine Your Heart Daily – Take time each day to ask God to reveal any areas where you may be compromising or allowing discontentment to take root (Psalm 139:23-24).
- Practice Gratitude – Instead of focusing on what’s lacking, intentionally thank God for His blessings (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Write down three things each day that you are grateful for.
- Use Your Resources Wisely – Whether it’s time, money, or talents, ask God how you can invest them in ways that honor Him and build His kingdom (Matthew 6:19-21).
- Turn Complaints into Praise – The next time you feel tempted to complain, shift your perspective by speaking God’s truth over the situation (Philippians 4:8).
- Seek Contentment in Christ – True satisfaction is found in a relationship with Jesus, not in circumstances. Meditate on Scriptures that remind you of His provision and sufficiency (Philippians 4:11-13).
Today I want to encourage you to take a moment to examine your own heart and life. What are you pursuing? Are you striving after a deeper relationship with your Heavenly Father and the purpose He created you for? Or are you simply trying to survive, just keeping your head above water? Whatever you discover, surrender it to your Savior today. In Him, you will find peace, rest, and, most of all, fulfillment. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any hidden thieves that are robbing you of the joy God has planned for you. Then draw the strength you need from His Spirit to remove them.
Today’s scripture Reading: Matthew 27:1-14
1 When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death.
2 And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
3 Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.”
And they said, “What is that to us? You see to it!”
5 Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.
6 But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood.”
7 And they consulted together and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in.
8 Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day.
9 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced,
10 and gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me.”
11 Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.”
12 And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing.
13 Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?”
14 But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.
The Daily Dose 