2 Maccabees 10:14-23: a reflection

14But when Gorgias was made governor of the district, he maintained a force of mercenaries, and at every turn kept up war with the Jews. 15Together with him the Idumaeans also, being masters of important strongholds, harassed the Jews; and received those who had taken refuge from Jerusalem, they endeavored to keep up the war. 16But Maccabaeus and his men, having made solemn supplication and having implored God to fight on their side, rushed upon the strongholds of the Idumaeans. 17Assaulting them vigorously, they took control of the positions, and kept off all who fought upon the wall, and killed those whom they encountered, killing no fewer than twenty thousand. 18Because no fewer than nine thousand had fled into two very strong towers having everything needed for a siege, 19Maccabaeus, having left Simon and Joseph, and also Zacchaeus and those who were with him, a force sufficient to besiege them, departed himself to places where he was most needed. 20But Simon and those who were with him, yielding to covetousness, were bribed by some of those who were in the towers, and receiving seventy thousand drachmas, let some of them slip away. 21But when word was brought to Maccabaeus of what was done, he gathered the leaders of the people together, and accused those men of having sold their kindred for money by setting their enemies free to fight against them. 22So he killed these men for having turned traitors, and immediately took possession of the two towers. 23Prospering with his weapons in everything he undertook, he destroyed more than twenty thousand in the two strongholds.

In the Maccabean wars, even among those fighting for a good cause, corruption creeps in. Some of Maccabeus's own men, left to besiege an enemy stronghold, yield to covetousness: they take a large bribe and let the enemies slip away, betraying the cause for money. When Maccabeus learns of it, he holds them accountable, condemning them for having sold their own people for money. The love of money had led even those on the right side to betray it.

Notice how the corruption crept in: through covetousness, the love of money. These men were part of a good cause, fighting alongside the faithful; yet greed led them to compromise and betray it for a bribe. It is a sobering reminder that being part of a good cause, or serving alongside God's people, does not make us immune to the corrupting pull of money. Greed can lead even those on the right side to sell out.

That is a warning to guard our own hearts, even in good work. We may be part of a worthy cause, serving God alongside faithful people, and still be vulnerable to the love of money, which can lead us to compromise, cut corners, or betray what we should be loyal to. The love of money is a root of much evil, and it does not spare those doing good work. Guard your heart against being bought. Do not assume that serving a good cause makes you immune to greed; watch for the ways the love of money might tempt you to compromise even what you are committed to. Keep your heart free from covetousness, so that you cannot be bought to betray what is right.

Lord, in the Maccabean wars, even some of those fighting for a good cause were bought by covetousness, taking a bribe and betraying their own people for money. Guard my own heart against being bought. Keep me from assuming that serving a good cause, or working alongside your people, makes me immune to the corrupting pull of money. Greed can lead even those on the right side to compromise and betray what they should be loyal to. Watch over my heart, and keep it free from covetousness, so that I cannot be bought to betray what is right. Do not let the love of money tempt me to cut corners, compromise, or sell out, even in good work. Make me faithful and incorruptible, loyal to you and to what is right, above any bribe.