The Sorrow Of Betrayal

I have nothing to add about this devotion… just liked the imagery.

When I was a boy, my dad observed my spendthrift ways and often said that money burned a hole in my pocket. I suppose it’s not unlike the way those 30 pieces of silver burned a hole in Judas’ heart after he had betrayed Jesus for a little cash. Imagine how he must have felt as he watched his friend Jesus, with hands bound, being led to trial. Judas had seen those hands calm the stormy sea and touch the blind and lame. How often those loving hands had touched his own life!

For Judas, the silver was no longer a reward but rather a reminder of what he had done to Jesus. With every step, the clanging coins sounded a dirge of condemnation, until in despair he admitted, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood” (Matt. 27:4).

When we make choices that betray Jesus, eventually our lives become filled with sorrow. Even well-intentioned followers find that their desire to love and serve Him is frequently on a collision course with the lure of cash or other seductions. But the things we have gained at His expense ultimately and inevitably become clanging symbols of sorrow and regret.

The next time you have to make a choice about cash—or anything else—remember the clatter of Judas’ condemning coins, and don’t betray your loving Leader.

Wanted: CEOs to Lead Us Through Economic Turmoil

We read about nonverbal communication for this week’s class, but here’s a form that you may not have considered: organizational visibility. In other words, if you are a leader who is available to your subordinates and are seen with an upbeat and cheerful attitude, you are likely to encourage your employees and keep a mood of hopefulness across the organization.

In times like these, this country more than ever needs visionary, courageous CEOs who can keep people focused on the future and give them reason to have faith in their companies.

During this time of economic uncertainty when many people are growing fearful, anxious and depressed, CEOs and leaders need to be a beacon of hope in their companies. Now is not the time to hide in long meetings with each other. Leaders need to get out, show their faces, talk to people and reassure investors, the public, even the media. Leaders need to keep people focused on the future and what they can do right now to keep the economy moving.

A few CEOs are giving the title a bad name right now, those who caused this crisis should give back their ill-gotten earnings and spend some timein jail if they’ve committed crimes.

At the same time, we have many great CEOs and leaders in this company who can help lead us out of this mess. Now is not the time to stop doing business, but to move forward together as one nation, believing in each other and keeping the engines of commerce moving. This will take courage on the part of every leader.