Right Decisions and Applications Sample

The Bad Trade

If you get in the right place—spiritually, emotionally, or physically—you will most likely begin to make the right decisions. The next decision I want you to reflect on and ask yourself is: What am I going to trade? What is my life going to be about?

Judas asked the chief priests what they were willing to give him if he handed Jesus over. They showed him some pieces of silver, and Judas was willing to make the trade. He was willing to betray the Son of God, the Messiah, for 30 pieces of silver. This is such a bad trade. When you have children, you trade freedom that married couples without children have. When you decide to excel at a sport or hobby, you trade time to practice and grow. 

Life is about a good trade. Are we making good trades or bad trades? Are we encouraging or discouraging others? 

Judas traded the Savior of the world for 30 pieces of silver. In the Old Testament it says that if you were responsible for the killing of a slave, you owed the slave’s master 30 shekels of silver. Jesus was bought, if you will, for a slave’s price. Why? So that you and I, who are slaves of sin, could be bought by Jesus. This is the Gospel come to life. 

It was such a terrible trade that Judas made, that towards the end even he threw the silverback at them. He knew he had made a horrendous decision. Disobedience to God and unrighteousness before the Lord is always a bad trade. 

If others do not like you, do not trade your relationship with God to be liked. God loves you. Sin is never a good trade. Let us not be like Judas asking, “What will you give me?” Let us go to Jesus, knowing He gives us more than enough. God gives you love and purpose. He gives you mercy and grace. He forgives you and gives you eternal life.