Good Morning Friends,
Most of the early churches just did not make it. The letters and the book of Revelation explain some of the problems of wealth in their collapse. Today we explore the problem of being spoiled by having inherited too much money and the problem of inheriting a church worship process from others who worked so hard to bring it to reality. I am not complaining but I get the sense that some worship venues are much like a gathering of rich rulers straining to get through the eye of the needle. So, in our smallness we like Zacchaeus seek to see what Jesus will offer as we ask, Will Salvation Come To Our Inherited House Of Worship?
Scripture: He entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. All who saw it began to grumble and said, “He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.” Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.” Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.”
Luke 19:1-10 (NRSV)
Message: Entrepreneurs tend to become to become the wealthiest of people in the world amassing more lasting wealth than those that inherit is as they creatively solve the problems of their time. This reality might explain the challenge in the church in America. So, with that in mind we today consider our wealth and God’s invitation, timing, ways and words so that our future with God will be everlasting. Today we consider the last time we climbed a tree and went out on a limb for Jesus. Today we consider the power of humility and what is necessary for salvation and ask as a child if we measure up given that we have inherited so much without working for it. I recently read Jesus’ parable of a rich man who was more interested in hoarding his wealth than living eternally. Jesus used the parable to warn us to beware of covetousness. But this ruler, perhaps recognizing that money is not everything, asked Jesus what he must ‘do’ to inherit eternal life. The young man had a very high view of his own heart but knew that something was missing in his life. However, when Jesus suggested that he should sell all that he had and give to the poor, the man went away sad. The disciples were amazed when Jesus followed this incident with the suggestion that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. ‘Who then can be saved?’ they wondered. Jesus was not, of course, denying the possibility, for ‘the things that are impossible with man are possible with God and the proof of this is played out in the story of another rich man, a man named Zacchaeus, who had amassed a fortune off the backs of his fellow-countrymen in his office as a chief tax-collector for the occupying Romans. Now Zacchaeus desired to see Jesus. But, being a small man, Zacchaeus could not see because of the crowds. They were no doubt hostile to the collaborator, and were not about to give way, so he ran on ahead of them and climbed a tree. In the literary center of this little narrative, Jesus discovered Zacchaeus hiding up in his tree and, in front of the whole crowd, called him by name. The hostility of the crowd thereby shifted away from Zacchaeus onto Jesus. In response to this costly love, Zacchaeus immediately made a gesture of charity towards the poor. Furthermore, his confession was followed by a practical demonstration of his change of heart, as he pledged more than the law required in restitution for any past false dealings. In this reading we see the dawn of salvation for Zacchaeus and his household. He discovered that there are some things more important than money. He moves from a taker to a generous “all in” giver. The story is a follow up passage to the widow’s mite and worthy of a Stewardship Sunday.
And So, I wonder how Zacchaeus would react to the reality that thousands of children sing songs about him climbing up a tree and having Jesus as a dinner guest. I imagine he would be pleased for it is the spill over from the transformation of doing justice and being generous. His path to salvation is one of the great stories in the Bible. We get a bird’s eye view of it in today’s rather humorous story about Zacchaeus, that corrupt Roman IRS agent. Here is a story of a short man up a tree… a searching sinner, a seeking savior and a spectacular salvation. Part of the story is instructive as well as funny. The humor just helps us to face the truth. Here we learn about a man who spent his life handling money only to discover how empty it all was. This man whose name in Hebrew means, “pure and righteous,” had become lost and needed to rediscover who he really was. Friends, I hope sooner rather than later you will realize that all those things you cling to and claim as yours alone will be taken from you. The only way to keep anything is to give. Here is the point. If you want to change what you are getting it needs to begin with what you are giving. So, give eagerly. Give generously. Give courageously. Give hilariously and be transformed like Zacchaeus. Friends, giving is so much more than about money. It is more about attitude. You see, it takes courage to let go of money. It takes courage to go out on a limb for Jesus.
Pray we realize that Jesus is the source, means and goal of life. Pray we realize that in sharing God’s love we receive true riches in return. Pray we realize our real treasure is in Jesus. Pray therefor that we give encouragement, affection and compassion. Pray we give a smile of approval but also our time and energy. Pray we realize that in giving to the poor we learn more about Jesus than we can imagine. Pray we not get lost. Pray we give money understanding what it is and what it is not. Pray we wean ourselves away from the temptation to place our human confidence in rubbish. Pray we receive Jesus joyfully. Pray we realize that in our smallness we discover that things are not always as they seem. Pray we discover the joy, fellowship and unmerited grace in Jesus. Pray we accept Jesus’ invitation to take our smallness and desires and to liberate them from our earthly pride in churchiness. Pray we accept the invitation to have a generous heart that honors both our heritage and Jesus.
Pray we have an intense desire to see Jesus at work in the world. Pray we are healed for service. Pray we have a humility regardless of position. Pray we practice the spiritual ministry of restitution. Pray we live our faith personally, domestically, socially and economically. Pray we are as welcoming to the poor as we would be as if we were welcoming Jesus. Pray we have an openness of the heart that transforms us though a love that changes our life so that it can glorify God. Pray we realize that nothing is more important than Jesus.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 