The Money Box

One thing that can be said about teaching Sunday school is that you never know what questions will arise.

Last Sunday we were discussing the Beatitudes and how in particular they applied to the disciples.

A question arose as to what Jesus and His followers did for money.

Scripture tells us that Jesus and his followers possessed a money box to help the poor.

It also tells us that Judas was the keeper of the box and that he helped himself to that money.

John 12:6 (NET) - Now Judas said this not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money box, he used to steal what was put into it.

Jesus knew that Judas stole from the money box and yet He allowed him to remain in charge of it… but more on that later.

What about money for their own use?

Scripture never tells us that Jesus or His disciples had money of their own.

Rather, it implies that they did not.

When Jesus sent his followers out in pairs, he instructed them not to take any money.

Luke 9:3 (NET) - He said to them, “Take nothing for your journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, and do not take an extra tunic.

Jesus empowered them to do great things.

Yet they were to be totally dependent on God for even their most basic needs.

Just before Jesus entered Jerusalem he sent his disciples ahead to get a colt for his entry into the city.

Matthew 21:2-3 (NET) - telling them, “Go to the village ahead of you. Right away you will find a donkey tied there, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you are to say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.”

When the Passover came, his followers asked Jesus where He wished the meal prepared.

Jesus gave them these instructions…

Matthew 26:18 (NET) - He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is near. I will observe the Passover with my disciples at your house.”’

No money changed hands for either the use of the room or the colt.

The one time that the need for money arose, Jesus instructed Peter how to obtain it.

In Matthew 17, the collectors of the temple tax approached Peter and asked if Jesus paid the tax,

Peter told them yes and returned to Jesus.

Jesus knew what had transpired.

Although Jesus did not really need to pay the tax, He instructed Peter how to obtain the money.

Matthew 17:27 (NET) – But so that we don’t offend them, go to the lake and throw out a hook. Take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth, you will find a four drachma coin. Take that and give it to them for me and you.

Then, there is the matter of His burial.

Luke 23:52-53 (NET) - He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and placed it in a tomb cut out of the rock, where no one had yet been buried.

Jesus was laid to rest in a borrowed tomb.

Scripture says practically nothing about Jesus and his followers using money.

That seems to be a message in and of itself.

So, why would Jesus allow Judas, a known thief, to keep the money box for the poor?

Let’s look at Paul’s first letter to Timothy.

1 Timothy 6:10 (NET) - For the love of money is the root of all evils. Some people in reaching for it have strayed from the faith and stabbed themselves with many pains.

Notice that Paul did not say that “money is the root of all evils”.

Paul stated that “the love of money is the root of all evils”.

Jesus commands us to love God and love our neighbor.

The love of money does not allow us to love either God or our neighbor.

The love of money is all consuming.

It is nothing short of idolatry.

Perhaps that is why Jesus allowed Judas to keep the money box.

Perhaps He simply allowed Judas to decide which master he would serve.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, June 23, 2017.

I’ll be back here on Friday, July 7, 2017