Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much." –Luke 19:8
She wasn’t wealthy, but she could eke by on her Social Security check if she was very careful; so long as the winters didn’t get too cold; and she didn’t have to have a new prescription; or didn’t need medical care; and…well, you get the picture. She had enough to eke by, that is, until the bottom-feeders of society got hold of her telephone number.
Pretty soon the slightly confused elderly woman had okayed a $600/month subscription to a service to protect her from telephone scams. That was followed by a $180/month subscription to help her process the paperwork for a sweepstakes check she’d already won.
As bad as they were, they were only slightly worse than the legitimate telemarketers, who once they realized they had an easy mark, called her back monthly to sell her the newest videos or the latest product. Even some Christian ministries got into the action, pressing her for “just a little extra” to meet the newest urgent need that arose. In the dog-eat-dog world of telemarketing and fundraising, an easy mark’s name and number spreads like wildfire.
Soon enough, the Social Security check isn’t enough to eke by, and the elderly woman asks for help.
I’ve often thought God should have a special punishment for those who prey on the weak. I want them to “get what’s coming to them”. In fact, I’ve been pretty smug in my righteous anger towards them.
Then I read about Jesus having lunch with Zaccheus.
In case you’ve missed that story in Scripture, Zaccheus was a tax collector in Jesus’ day, a bottom-feeder in the eyes of many of His fellow countrymen. He was also extremely short (I can just hear some of you singing “Zaccheus was a wee little man…”). Anyway, Zaccheus was so eager to see Jesus that he risked even more ridicule by climbing a tree just so he could see this man everyone was talking about. Much to the disgust of His disciples and others, instead of trashing Zaccheus, Jesus invites Himself to dinner with him!
Later, having met the Master, Zaccheus publicly declares that if he’s defrauded anyone, he will repay them fourfold.
As I read that story again, I’m reminded that Jesus had a unique ability to separate the person from their sin as He looked at them. He NEVER condoned sinful behavior, but He always understood that change comes not from the outside in, but rather from the inside out.
For Christians who care about ethics; who care about injustice and insensitivity and even callousness, it is tempting for us to try to make rules that force people to behave like Jesus wants them to. But, while rules are important, changes don’t last until a person meets and accepts Jesus Christ.
Changing culture doesn’t change people. Meeting Jesus does. Like Zaccheus, real reform comes when men and women get face to face with the One who loves even bottom-feeders.
--Randy Kilgore
rkilgore@marketplacenetwork.com
www.marketplacenetwork.com
