We often have this mindset when it comes to relationships: "You scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours. If you do this for me, I’ll do that for you." Or it is played out negatively: "If you didn’t give me what I want, I won’t give you what you want." We all want something from each other. Sadly, our relationships become nothing more than business deals.

Unfortunately, we do the same with God. We want something from God so we deal, bargain, and trade with Him: "God this is what I need from you. If you get me that job, fix my finances, help me pass that test, do a miracle on my marriage, etc. I’ll do anything you want." Or we say, "God, you didn’t get me that job or that promotion. You didn’t answer my prayers when I was sick, when I had to file for bankruptcy, when my spouse walked out on me, etc. Therefore, I’m going to do life my way—without You. I’m not going to play your game."

This same thing was happening in Jesus’ day when His disciples were in the "what’s in it for me" mindset. Peter said this to Jesus in Matthew 19:27: "We've given up everything to follow you. What will we get out of it?" Over time, Jesus’ followers broke out of the "deal making" mold and became committed to a relationship of surrender to Jesus’ agenda -- with one exception: Judas. He couldn’t stop dealing to get what he wanted from Jesus, and he wouldn’t surrender to Jesus’ agenda.

What was it that Judas wanted from Jesus? Judas was a young, devout, patriotic Jew who didn’t want the oppressive Romans to rule over Israel anymore. He had signed on with Jesus because he believed Jesus was the Messiah sent by God to set up his earthly kingdom and overthrow Rome. Judas wanted the inside track to fame, fortune, and power. He saw Jesus as a means to an end. He wasn’t committed to a relationship with Jesus. It was nothing more than a business deal to gain personal prosperity and power—to get what he wanted.

For three years, Judas followed Jesus around watching him perform miracles, hoping Jesus would instigate the revolution against Rome and set up His kingdom. But toward the end of three long years of patiently waiting, Judas was receiving mixed messages from Jesus.

Jesus wasn’t showing a strong hatred for the Roman oppressors. He wasn’t getting organized to lead a revolt. Jesus was alienating the religious leaders rather than seeking their support. Bottom line: Judas wasn’t getting what he wanted out of Jesus. So he decided to get out of God’s game and play his own game.

The one event that pushed Judas over the edge and out of God’s game plan occurred at a dinner party at the home of Simon in Bethany. Matthew 26:7-9 reads, "During supper, a woman came in with a beautiful jar of expensive perfume and poured it over Jesus’ head. The disciples were indignant when they saw this. ‘What a waste of money,’ they said. ‘She could have sold it for a fortune and given the money to the poor.’"

In John’s eyewitness account of this same story we find out that the perfume was valued at a year’s salary. In today’s value, thousands of dollars was poured out onto Jesus. Immediately, Jesus’ followers became very angry over this extravagant, yet wasteful act. John also tells us that it was Judas who was stirring up his fellow disciples.

John 12:4-6 says, "But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples--the one who would betray him--said, ‘That perfume was worth a small fortune. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.’ Not that he cared for the poor--he was a thief who was in charge of the disciples' funds, and he often took some for his own use."

I think Judas was ticked for several reasons. He probably thought Mary’s life’s savings was wasted on one person, when it could have funded the revolution. Besides, it was a chunk of change he could embezzle for himself. I also think Judas was disgusted with this woman for honoring and believing in Jesus who was becoming more pathetic and cowardly every day rather than becoming a king.

Jesus’ response to Mary’s act of devotion is interesting. Matthew 26:10-12 says, "Why berate her for doing such a good thing to me? You will always have the poor among you, but I will not be here with you much longer. She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial."

That last comment was the final straw for Judas. If there is a burial, there must be a death. Judas was not looking to follow a dead man, but a political king who would overthrow Rome and set up his earthly kingdom. This was not the business arrangement or the kind of Messiah he expected. Judas saw Jesus as a cause, not the Christ to worship and have a relationship with.

So when Judas didn’t get what he bargained for, he immediately dropped out of the game and tried to pressure Jesus to start the revolution by turning Jesus in. Matthew 26:14-16 says, "Then Judas Iscariot, one of the 12 disciples, went to the leading priests and asked, "How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?" And they gave him 30 pieces of silver. From that time on, Judas began looking for the right time and place to betray Jesus."

You see when your game plan takes precedence over God’s, you set yourself up to betray God—you turn your back on His values, principles and a relationship with Him. But Jesus doesn’t bargain or deal. He’s the King.

He is in control and his game plan can’t be forced or undone.

Jesus was on his way to the cross to die for our sins, and no one was going to stop him.

The next time Jesus and Judas met was at the Last Supper two days later. Jesus’ knew Judas was a traitor. He knew Judas was an embezzler. Yet Jesus washed Judas’ feet. He gave Judas a place of honor at the dinner table. What a gesture! Yet, Judas wasn’t going to play the game. Matthew 26:21-22, 25 says, "While they were eating, he said, ‘The truth is, one of you will betray me.’ Greatly distressed, one by one they began to ask him, ‘I'm not the one, am I, Lord?’ Judas, the one who would betray him, also asked, ‘Teacher, I'm not the one, am I?’ And Jesus told him, ‘You have said it yourself.’"

Notice that Jesus did nothing. He didn’t stop him. He didn’t threaten Judas or turn him over to the other disciples for a beat down. Why?

God is in control and his game plan can’t be forced or undone.

God doesn’t play "let’s make a deal".

Later that night, Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss. The next day, Jesus was condemned and put to death by crucifixion. Matthew 27:3-5 says, "When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and other leaders. ‘I have sinned,’ he declared, ‘for I have betrayed an innocent man.’ ‘What do we care?’ they retorted. ‘That's your problem.’ Then Judas threw the money onto the floor of the Temple and went out and hanged himself."

God is in control and his game plan can’t be forced or undone.

He doesn’t bargain or make deals with us. He’s God. He wants us to live out His game plan, not ours. Now, if you do chose to live out your game plan like Judas, here are four predictions.

1. If you think you can get away with something, go ahead. God probably won’t stop you. If you want to play your game outside God’s foul poles, He won’t stop you or send instant consequences. That’s why the spouse who walks out or the person who doesn’t do their job at work may seem to get away with things. God doesn’t usually intervene; and usually consequences aren’t immediate.

2. At that point, you are responsible for the outcomes of your choices. The destination of your journey is in your lap. Just as the religious leaders said to Judas—"That’s your problem. It’s your responsibility. You are on your own."

3. Eventually, you will self-destruct. Over time, you’ll hang yourself. God usually doesn’t have to intervene with supernatural consequences like lightening bolts or car wrecks. When you leave God out and violate His principles, eventually you’ll face unwanted, natural consequences.

4. Perhaps over time, after you have experienced the pain of broken dreams, relationships, scares and memories, you will wake up and come back to God with your hands up, saying, "Okay God, I surrender." And God will receive you back because that’s the kind of God he is—full of grace and mercy. But I must be up front with you: He isn’t a God who erases consequences.

If there was ever anyone who had enough leverage to make a deal with God, it was Jesus. If there was ever a time when Jesus needed to make a deal with God, it was when he was facing crucifixion. "God, I need a favor. How about a detour around the cross? Is there another game plan? But I’m not going to make a deal with you. Now that you know what I want, not my will but your will be done. I surrender to your will—your game plan, not mine." That’s the heart of a champion—one who surrenders—who bows the knee to God’s will.

We tend to approach God as the guy on the other side of the desk. "Okay God, here’s the deal."

Friends, God doesn’t negotiate or make deals. Instead, we need to bow the knee to God’s game plan. We need to begin and end everyday with "God, not my will, but your will be done." And when we do, God takes responsibility for the outcome of our journey, and we develop the heart of a champion.