WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
SEPTEMBER 8, 2022
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 The 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’re yet to fully recover from the effects. Some cases of betrayal are more painful than others. Because of betrayal, some people find it difficult to trust anyone again. Some people currently don’t have friends because they were betrayed by a bosom friend. They’re not finding it easy to make new friends.
Betrayal happens in different ways. It could be someone not keeping his promise. Proverbs 25:14 says a person who promises a gift but doesn’t give it is like clouds and wind that bring no rain. Also, betrayal could be unfaithfulness or dishonesty in money matters. Furthermore, it could be in the divulging of secrets. Proverbs 20:19 says, “A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much” (New International Version). Betrayal could also be in terms of someone giving one away to one’s enemies or joining forces with one’s foes. That was what Judas did to Jesus Christ.
Luke 22:3 says that Satan entered Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’ twelve disciples. He 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, he sought an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them (Matthew 26:14-16).
As one of Jesus’ disciples, Judas knew 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). 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!
Jesus had told His disciples earlier that one of His disciples 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 was a quotation from 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). 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” (The 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 both oral and written contracts/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. Because of such betrayal, other people find it difficult to get people to stand as guarantors for them.
If you make a promise to someone, keep it. If there is any reason you can’t keep it, inform the person early. Don’t 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 The Living Bible).
When people trust you with confidential information, don’t betray them. Don’t be a talebearer or gossip. “A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret” (Proverbs 11:13 New International Version). When you tell another person someone’s secrets, you have only told the person that you’re not trustworthy. If he is wise, he will never confide in you because he knows that you will also reveal his secrets to another person or others. Don’t disclose people’s secrets to others. Doing so is 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 started 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, demoralize 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 your 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 need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to 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 life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you 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 surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him 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 will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you 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 repose in me. I shall not backstab anyone or harm those who trust me or rely on me. I pray that those who betray others, breaking 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.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org
