Verse: Luke 19:1-10
When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”
But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house…”
Devotional Thoughts:
Who then can be saved?
That’s the question Jesus’ disciples ask after watching the rich, young ruler walk away in Luke 18. Jesus just watched him go, then said, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
This ruler was the whole package. He had wealth, power, and he followed the Ten Commandments. He would’ve been on the Who’s Who list of Jerusalem. So the disciples were naturally astounded when not even a man like this could be saved.
Who then can be saved?
Jesus shows exactly who can be saved in the very next chapter. He and the disciples stroll into Jericho, and there’s this guy in a sycamore tree. Luke says he’s wealthy, and it’s because of his occupation. He’s a tax collector, and not just any tax collector, but a chief tax collector. And tax collectors were hated in this day. They were considered Jewish turncoats – those who helped the oppressive Romans, exploited their fellow Jews, and padded their own wallet all at the same time.
So people were upset. Luke says they were muttering, complaining that Jesus was going to be the guest of a sinner. Many in this very crowd were likely poor. Many in this very crowd were likely ripped off by Zacchaeus. Many in this very crowd probably lived meagerly while he lived in luxury.
So Luke gives us this side by side, two person picture. One, who was wealthy, respected, and considered a good man, was not saved. Another, a swindling, Roman-supporter who had defrauded many of his fellow Jews, was.
Points to Ponder:
Friends, the main point I want to get across is this:
Watch out for the scoreboard.
It’s a dangerous thing when the things we do, especially the good things, start becoming the score of our lives. It’s so easy to slip into the mindset that prefers lighting up the scoreboard of our good things – of our accomplishments, achievements, perceived levels of maturity, etc.
Do you see it?
Everyone did this concerning the rich, young ruler and Zacchaeus. Everyone looked to the scoreboard of the rich, young ruler’s good things. Here was a man worthy to be a follower of Jesus! But, the scoreboard of Zacchaeus’ life was different. He had 0 points and many fouls. No way he was worthy to follow Jesus.
And Jesus flips their notion on its head. At the core of Christianity is this – it’s not so much about what you have done (good or bad), but about what Jesus did on the cross. There is no one so good that they don’t need to be saved, and no one so bad that they can’t be saved.
Watch out for the scoreboard in your own life. It’s human tendency to slip back into keeping score. And it leads to mindsets like, “I do so much for the church. It would be nice if they (points finger) would serve like I do.” Or, “I would never be as prideful at they are (points finger).” Or, like the Pharisee’s prayer, ” God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector (points finger). I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.”
And, admittedly, this can be difficult at times.
But let’s serve the Lord, not the scoreboard.
Blessings,
Zac
