Luke 19:1-27

A tax collector named Zaccheus was trying to see Jesus as He walked by, but he was so short he couldn't see over the crowd. In order to get a better view, he climbed up a tree. Jesus saw him in the tree and told him to come down so He could go to Zaccheus' house. When the people saw what Jesus was doing, they grumbled about how Jesus was going to be the guest of a sinner. Zaccheus declared that he was going to give half of what he had to the poor and pay back everyone he had cheated four times what he took. Upon hearing this, Jesus stated that salvation had come to Zaccheus' house that day.

Zaccheus was a true seeker. He did whatever was necessary to see Jesus. Once he saw Him and Jesus called on him to do something, he did it. He was convicted of his sins and made a plan for reparations. It is important to take an inventory of our lives and determine who we have wronged. When possible, we should make reparations to the person and ask for forgiveness. In doing so, we do more than just assuage our own guilt, we allow the other person to heal as well.


Jesus told a parable about a man who left on a long trip to take care of some business. While he was gone, he gave three of his servants some money to do business with while he was gone. The first and second second servant used the money to earn more in their masters absence, but the third servant merely hid it away and gave his master back the same amount. The master was pleased with the first and second servant and gave them more responsibilities. He was displeased with the third servant and took away what he had and gave it to the other two.

Everything we have comes from God. If we take the things He gives us and use them for His glory, He will bless us and fulfill our needs. If we sit on them and keep them to ourselves, He will not give us more and has every right to take away whatever He chooses. By giving away what has been given to us, we truly receive the best from God. This is completely different from what the world at large teaches about taking and taking and taking. God doesn't want us to live like the world though. He has shown us a better way.