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 this work. Today we explore the problem of being spoiled by having inherited the church from others who worked so hard to bring it into operation and sustainability. Some churches can be like a gathering of rich rulers straining to get through the eye of the needle managing the endowed bequests of dead members and never having exercised their spiritual muscles to develop into a courageous Christian. So, I wonder about our willingness to risk passionately and be generous in our love even as I ask, What Are We To Do When We Inherit A Church?
Scripture: “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works; you have a name of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up and strengthen what remains and is on the point of death, for I have not found your works perfect in the sight of my God. Remember then what you received and heard; obey it, and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. Yet you have still a few persons in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes; they will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. If you conquer, you will be clothed like them in white robes, and I will not blot your name out of the book of life; I will confess your name before my Father and before his angels. Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the origin of God’s creation: “I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. For you say, ‘I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing.’ You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. Therefore, I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich; and white robes to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nakedness from being seen; and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. I reprove and discipline those whom I love. Be earnest, therefore, and repent. Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me. To the one who conquers I will give a place with me on my throne, just as I myself conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.”
Revelation 3:1-6, 14-22 (NRSV)
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)
“No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.
Matthew 6:24 (NRSV)
Message: Entrepreneurs tend to become to become the wealthiest of people in the world amassing more lasting wealth than those that inherit it 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. No, we cannot earn our salvation, but we can grow as Christians. And, the world is filled with those who are more interested in hoarding wealth than living eternally. Jesus warned us to beware of covetousness. But stories like the rich young 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 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. And a follow up passage to the widow’s mite worthy of any 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 the called-out assembly of God will realize that all those things we cling to and claim as yours alone in the institutional church will be taken from us. The only way to keep anything is to give generously and for justice. 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. Give repentantly 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 have a conquering Spirit that is victorious in Christ. 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 recognize the danger of pride and the value of humility. Pray we realize that our failures may not be failures at all and that what we think is success may not be success at all. Pray we accept Jesus’ invitation to take our smallness and desires and to liberate them from our earthly pride in churchiness. Pray we respond to Jesus with trust believing that He is our Lord. Pray we come out of our sin, get up from our self-pity, come down from our pride, and come to an understanding of the mystery of Christ on the tree. Pray we have the courage to find the blessing, the joy, the happiness found in a child’s trust and faith. Pray we accept the invitation to have a generous heart that honors both our heritage and 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 are not lukewarm. Pray we discover the joy, fellowship and unmerited grace in Jesus. Pray we have an intense desire to see Jesus at work in the world. 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 