WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
SEPTEMBER 13, 2026
TOPIC: DON’T BETRAY OTHERS
BY T. O. BANSO
“This friend of mine betrayed me—I who was at peace with him. He broke his promises. His words were oily smooth, but in his heart was war. His words were sweet, but underneath were daggers.” (Psalm 55:20-21, Living Bible).
Betrayal is common among human beings. As you read this, you may be recalling some cases of betrayal you have experienced. Probably, you have yet to recover from the effects. Some cases of betrayal are more painful than others. Due to betrayal, some people struggle greatly to trust anyone again. Some people currently don’t have friends because their bosom friends betrayed them. They are not finding it easy to make new friends.
Betrayal happens in different ways. It may be someone not keeping his promise. Proverbs 25:14 states that a person who promises a gift but does not give it is like clouds and wind that bring no rain. Furthermore, betrayal can be dishonesty in financial matters. Moreover, it can be divulging of secrets. Proverbs 20:19 says, “A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much.” (New International Version). Betrayal may also be someone giving you away to your enemies or joining forces with them. That is what Judas did to Jesus Christ.
Luke 22:3 says that Satan entered Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’ twelve disciples. Days before he betrayed Jesus to His enemies, Judas went to the chief priests and asked them what they would give him if he delivered Jesus to them. They gave him thirty silver coins, and from then on, he sought an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them (Matthew 26:14-16).
Jesus had told His disciples earlier that one of them would betray Him. When each of them asked if he was the one, He answered, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me.” (Matthew 26:23, New King James Version). This pointed to the fulfilment of Psalm 41:9, which says, “Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.” (New King James Version). Jesus applied this scripture to Judas, saying in John 13:18, “I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’” (New King James Version).
As one of Jesus’ disciples, Judas was aware of Jesus’ whereabouts. He had information that Jesus’ enemies didn’t have. On the day he delivered Jesus to His enemies, he knew where He was, the Garden of Gethsemane, for Jesus often met there with His disciples (John 18:2; Matthew 26:36; Mark 14:32). Judas led a detachment of troops and officers he had received from the chief priests and Pharisees to where Jesus was. They came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons (John 18:3; Matthew 26:47).
Judas had given them a sign that whoever he kissed was Jesus, and they should arrest Him (Matthew 26:48). The betrayer kissed Jesus (Luke 22:47). What a treacherous kiss! “But Jesus said to him, ‘Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?’” (Luke 22:48, New King James Version). The detachment of troops with the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him (John 18:12). A friend betrayed Jesus! But Judas paid dearly for the betrayal of his Master. He threw down in the temple the money he had received for his treachery and went to hang himself (Matthew 27:5).
Beware of betrayal and don’t betray anyone, whether it is your spouse, children, other family members, friends, employers, employees, business partners, or any other person. There are always consequences, as seen in Judas’ case. Absalom, who betrayed his father, David, by revolting against him and seizing the throne from him, lost his life thereafter, and his rebellion was put down (2 Samuel 18:9-15).
God hates treachery, including treachery in marriage. Malachi 2:13-14 says, “Yet you cover the altar with your tears because the Lord doesn’t pay attention to your offerings anymore, and you receive no blessing from him. ‘Why has God abandoned us?’ you cry. I’ll tell you why; it is because the Lord has seen your treachery in divorcing your wives who have been faithful to you through the years, the companions you promised to care for and keep.” (Living Bible). Keep your marriage vows. Don’t betray your spouse.
When you do business with others, don’t betray them. Give them what is due to them. Don’t lie. Don’t cheat them. Fulfil oral and written contracts or agreements. If someone has stood as a guarantor for you, don’t betray him. Some guarantors are in trouble today because those they stood for betrayed their trust. They repaid good with evil. Due to this kind of betrayal, it is difficult for others to find anyone to stand as a guarantor for them. “If you repay good with evil, evil will never leave your house.” (Proverbs 17:13, New Living Translation).
Do not betray anyone. If you make a promise to someone, keep it. If there is any reason you cannot keep it, inform the person as early as possible.
Do not betray others. David said, “This friend of mine betrayed me—I who was at peace with him. He broke his promises. His words were oily smooth, but in his heart was war. His words were sweet, but underneath were daggers.” (Psalm 55:20-21, Living Bible). While betrayal has serious consequences, God offers forgiveness and restoration to those who genuinely repent.
When people trust you with confidential information, do not betray them. Do not be a talebearer or a gossip. “A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.” (Proverbs 11:13, New International Version). When you share someone’s secrets with another person without the person’s permission, you only prove that you are not trustworthy. If that person is wise, they will never confide in you again because they know you might also share their private matters with others. Do not disclose people’s secrets. Doing so is a betrayal.
Avoid betrayal. Some people are serial betrayers. They should repent because they are sowing a bad seed, which they will reap one day. That is, if they have not even begun reaping the harvest. And the harvest for both good and bad seeds is always more than the seed sown. “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” (Galatians 6:7, New King James Version). Don’t be a betrayer. Be trustworthy, faithful, and loyal.
No doubt, betrayal is painful. But if you have been betrayed, don’t let it destroy you, demoralise you, or cause you to make bad decisions. Remember that Jesus, the Son of God, was also betrayed. Consequently, after His arrest, He was tried, condemned, and crucified. But that was not His end. He rose again! You may have experienced a fall or setback because of betrayal, but it is not the end. You will rise again in Jesus’ name. Learn the necessary lessons from your betrayal and seek God’s help in prayer to overcome the effects.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you must repent of your sins and confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour now. Please take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself, and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life—your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your heart. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church. There, you will be taught how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner, and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me, and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I invite Jesus into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You must join a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church where you will be taught how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Father, help me not to betray others. Let me not betray the trust people place in me. I will never backstab anyone or harm those who trust me or rely on me. I pray that those who betray others and break their hearts will repent and become trustworthy, faithful, and loyal.
(For over 800 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
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