Have you ever wondered why Jesus was willing to let Judas be one of his disciples, eat at His table, and work in His ministry, but when He went into the temple He turned over the tables of the money changers? Me neither, until today when I am reading Zechariah 14 and it says in verse 21 “There shall no longer be a trader in the house of the LORD of hosts on that day.”
As I read this verse this morning the Lord said, “People have valued silver and gold over people as their most valuable assets.” Immediately I heard in my spirit, “But, I value people more than silver and gold.”

I have been driving around this past couple days taking notice of the need in the city around me. As I have been surveying the land, the Lord has been speaking to me about the need for a solution to the spirit of neglect in this city. Businesses are closing, houses are being abandoned, attitudes are flaring, and it did not used to be to this degree before. I was speaking with a friend about it and she was sharing how the city has gone down hill and people are being affected greatly by the inflation, lack of police presence and all around sense of anger rising.

As we started talking about what it would take to help heal this city, we discussed all the resources needed and we began dreaming of neighbors coming together to help repair fences, cut grass, trim bushes and beautify their neighbors yards. We then talked about how often people want silver and gold resources, but how we also need human resources to help people. It was in this context, the Lord spoke and said, “Everyone wants silver and gold for it is considered valuable, but I value people as the most valuable asset on earth.”

Friends, Jesus sat with Judas at His table, but Judas was pursuing silver and gold not Jesus. Jesus turned over the tables of the money changers because He valued people and was fulfilling Zechariah’s prophesy, “There shall no longer be a trader in the house of the LORD of hosts on that day.” If you are sensing your table being turned over, it is probably not a table where people are sitting at but it may be a table where trading has become more valuable than people. Jesus is still turning over tables.