Zacchaeus was a wee little man...

Friday, July 04, 2008

Zacchaeus was a wee little man...
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Galactic Conquest
By Eleventyseven
Happiness
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Happy Fourth of July! It's an amazing time of year. Canada Day was a few days ago. It's a pleasant time of year really. Especially when we think about the amazing countries that we live in, and how truly blessed we are to be allowed to live in a time such as this. We have learned to fly, (supposedly as some would say) walked on the moon, and have traversed the depths of space and the sea.

We have so much to be thankful for (especially in a stagnant economic state) just for the sheer fact that we (well, I...) live in a rich nation. To live in a nation that has so many technological, medical, humanitarian, cultural, educational, and scientific (etcetera, etcetera, etcetera) achievements.

I myself am allowed to pray and worship my Lord and Savior with a group of people openly. I take my Bible to work, and read it when I'm on breaks. I sign hymns as I walk down the street (they tend to get stuck in my head. I don't purposely walk down Michigan Avenue singing Agnus Dei). I can wear a shirt that professes my love of the Lord in public. My church and I can have services outside, in the park, during daylight.

My point in mentioning all of those things is this: we live in a nation(s) where that is perfectly acceptable. Where many people can do as they please, just as long as no one's getting hurt, and no laws are being broken. How is it that I am so 'lucky' to have been blessed with these gifts, when so many people around the world have not been? How is it that I, a twenty-one year-old homosexual man can profess (openly, mind you) that I am in fact, a homosexual AND a follower of Christ?

These things boggle my mind. They boggle my mind in the fact that the Lord has provided for you, me, and millions and millions of people around the world. Yet, we are absolvent to the fact that the Lord has not (yet?) provided these things to the other people around the globe.

So, let us this Fourth of July remember America's birthday. Yay, go America! Happy 232nd Birthday! But let us not forget about the tragedies that are being perpetrated around the globe. In places such as Darfur, North Korea, Kurdish regions of the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Iraq, and the list goes on and becomes more and more lengthy. Do not forget about those people around the world that most desperately need our thoughts and prayers, especially on this day, the anniversary of our independence.

But, speaking of the Bible, the Word of God, I was doing my daily reading today, and read the bit of Luke that mentions Jesus' interaction with Zacchaeus. And as I've mentioned before, I always pray before I read the Word. I pray that God will reveal something new and fresh to me. Something that has otherwise been a mystery (I read the Bible in sequential order. I don't ask for God to give me a verse to read as I find it doesn't work for me. But, if it works for you, go for it hot stuff).

So, Luke 19: 1-27
Then Jesus entered and walked through Jericho. There was a man there, his name Zacchaeus, the head tax man and quite rich. He wanted desperately to see Jesus, but the crowd was in his way—he was a short man and couldn't see over the crowd. So he ran on ahead and climbed up in a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus when he came by.
When Jesus got to the tree, he looked up and said, "Zacchaeus, hurry down. Today is my day to be a guest in your home." Zacchaeus scrambled out of the tree, hardly believing his good luck, delighted to take Jesus home with him. Everyone who saw the incident was indignant and grumped, "What business does he have getting cozy with this crook?"
Zacchaeus just stood there, a little stunned. He stammered apologetically, "Master, I give away half my income to the poor—and if I'm caught cheating, I pay four times the damages."
Jesus said, "Today is salvation day in this home! Here he is: Zacchaeus, son of Abraham! For the Son of Man came to find and restore the lost."

While he had their attention, and because they were getting close to Jerusalem by this time and expectation was building that God's kingdom would appear any minute, he told this story:
"There was once a man descended from a royal house who needed to make a long trip back to headquarters to get authorization for his rule and then return. But first he called ten servants together, gave them each a sum of money, and instructed them, 'Operate with this until I return.'
"But the citizens there hated him. So they sent a commission with a signed petition to oppose his rule: 'We don't want this man to rule us.'
"When he came back bringing the authorization of his rule, he called those ten servants to whom he had given the money to find out how they had done.
"The first said, 'Master, I doubled your money.'
"He said, 'Good servant! Great work! Because you've been trustworthy in this small job, I'm making you governor of ten towns.'
"The second said, 'Master, I made a fifty percent profit on your money.'
"He said, 'I'm putting you in charge of five towns.'
"The next servant said, 'Master, here's your money safe and sound. I kept it hidden in the cellar. To tell you the truth, I was a little afraid. I know you have high standards and hate sloppiness, and don't suffer fools gladly.'
"He said, 'You're right that I don't suffer fools gladly—and you've acted the fool! Why didn't you at least invest the money in securities so I would have gotten a little interest on it?'
"Then he said to those standing there, 'Take the money from him and give it to the servant who doubled my stake.'
"They said, 'But Master, he already has double . . .'
"He said, 'That's what I mean: Risk your life and get more than you ever dreamed of. Play it safe and end up holding the bag.
"'As for these enemies of mine who petitioned against my rule, clear them out of here. I don't want to see their faces around here again.'"
So, as I was reading that (the text is from The Message Bible) I was hit with something. Not only do I love the song that I used to sing in Sunday School when I was little about Zacchaeus (when reading the first bit), but also something new hit me while I read the second part of the Word.
What I feel I was being told about that part is this: God has given us our lives and our livelihoods to do with as we please. We have free choice, the ability to choose him, or the ability to decide to renounce Christ. Out of the ten servants at the beginning, only three are mentioned. The master gave them all a mina, which was about three months worth of wages. So, pretty hefty chunk of change. They were to do with it as they saw fit. To operate it, as he said. The first servant put his mina to work and doubled it (half a year's income!). As such, the servant was given 10 towns to govern over. Then the second servant put the mina to work and made it half of it. So, he had (4 3/4s months income) and was given 5 towns to watch over. The third servant didn't do anything with the mina. He put it in his sock drawer I'd imagine. Not getting anything for it. That man's mina was taken away and given to the man with 10 minas (the first servant).
So too are we. We have been given our lives by God. Tim Gun's quote of, "Make it work," applies here in this story and to our modern lives. However, if we squander what God has given us, and don't earn anything on return (i.e. Salvation, Sanctification, yadda, yadda, yadda) your share of the Kingdom will be given to someone who deserves it more than you. Follow the Lord's commandments and wishes. Be fruitful and your reward will be great. Also, by another token (I wrote this in the margins of my Bible for me... but it might apply to you too) If you profess to be the Lord's but you're too scared to do his bidding, to do what he wants you to do, your reward is guess what... nothing!
Until next time, I leave you with this lovely video.
Peace to you, and my the Lord's countenance shine upon you, now and forever more.
-Jordan