Payback!

Luke 19:8

Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”

Zacchaeus was not a tall man. Growing up, he had heard all of the short jokes ever thought of. But what Zacchaeus lacked in stature he made up for in a drive to be successful. He became a tax collector, then chief tax collector, and he became rich.

Zacchaeus, despite his name meaning pure, was anything but. The only way to get rich as a tax collector was to cheat the citizens, and Zacchaeus did. Every short joke he endured became another dollar in his bank account. He may not grow tall, but he grew rich!

When Zacchaeus got wind that Jesus was coming to town, he wanted desperately to see him. Yet once again, his lack of height thwarted his plans, he couldn’t see over the crowd. The same drive and determination that Zacchaeus used to climb the social ladder now drove him to abandon any pride or sense of decorum and climb a tree. He had to see Jesus, no matter the cost.

The end result of his determination? He became a follower of Christ, and while he gave away half of his wealth, and promised to pay back four times what he had cheated people, he received eternal life. He was a changed man.

How much drive and determination do you have? Are you working hard to get ahead in life, trying to climb the ladder of success? Have you ever thought about using that same drive to follow Jesus?

Imagine how our world could change if we just offered ourselves, without worrying about what people thought. If we had the same drive to love others as we do to get ahead in life, we would change the world. Let’s give feet to our faith and apply ourselves to changing the world one person at a time. It is the ultimate payback!

Today’s Readings: Genesis 47,48; Psalm 10; Luke 19

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