Zaccheaus lived in the camp of traitors as a lifestyle, and he saw the fruit of it. He was rich yet lonely, having everything yet missing acceptance and love, enjoying the applause of his fellow tax collectors but not having the approval of His God!
Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”
And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19: 8-10
Zacchaeus’ encounter with Jesus gave him a revelation of what was truly important in life. The Jewish people were supposed to be generous with the poor and the needy, but Zacchaeus went over the top!
“No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Luke 16:13
By giving half of his goods to the poor, Zacchaeus testified that money was no longer his ruler. He had chosen to serve God instead of money!
Zacchaeus took another courageous step. He admitted that he had stolen money from others by falsely accusing them. He was willing to pay back those he had harmed fourfold. His desire to restore what was stolen, was a second significant step in this man’s repentance and decision to live in truth. By giving half of his possessions to the poor and paying back fourfold to restore those he had cheated, could have meant that he gave up most and possibly all his possessions to follow Christ!
I am reminded of Jesus telling a rich young ruler that if he desired to follow Him, he must sell all his possessions and give it to the poor. Nothing in our lives should be in competition with our obedience to the Lord!
The very acceptance, importance, and security that Zacchaeus had been seeking for years kept him spiritually bankrupt. Wealth and power had not delivered what he had hoped they were going to deliver.
When Jesus entered Zacchaeus’ house and loved him in his despised state, it gave him what he had been looking for all his life. There was no need to hold on to the counterfeit any longer. He wasn’t thirsty for the deadly poison of power for he found the Living Water to quench his thirst! He was willing to give up all his possessions in order to have the love, peace, and security that he found in his relationship to Jesus.
Have you stolen reputation, acknowledgment, material goods, or opportunities from others that need to be restored today?
Are there any counterfeits that you’ve held onto for the false hope of bringing you acceptance, significance, and power? Get alone with Jesus and let His love and affirmation help you to open your grip on these things and let them go today!