We've all heard or read the story of Zacchaeus. It's a cute story about a little man who has lunch with Jesus. He climbed up in the sycamore tree for the Lord he wanted to see. Right?
So, that was a part of my Bible reading yesterday. I wondered about that story. It seems like Zacchaeus earns his Salvation by giving half of his stuff to the poor. However, this can't be the case because salvation can't be earned. So, what is going on then? How would I be able to share this story with someone?
God knew.
I got a nail in my tire and needed to take it to the tire guy down the street. We were chatting when I whispered a prayer, asking God for an opening to share spiritual thoughts.
There was a slight lull in the conversation, and I said, "Where do you go to church?" That was pretty subtle.
He said, "I'm Catholic. My dad was born Catholic, and I'm Catholic." A little later, I asked, "What does it mean to be Catholic?" The tire guy looked at me seriously and said, "It means to be humble."
I'd never heard that one before.
However, Zacchaeus came to mind! I asked him if he had ever heard the story of Zacchaeus. He said that he had. "He was the little guy who wanted to see Jesus."
We chuckled, and I said, "Zacchaeus was a rich man. He was the chief tax collector. All must have hated him. Just like tax people are these days. He was rich because he probably took more money than he should have from his fellow Jews. Yet his height prohibited him from seeing Jesus, so he had to humble himself and climb a tree.
But, Jesus walked right under that tree and looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. He went to his house, and there Zacchaeus made his famous declaration. Jesus responded, "Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a son of Abraham."
I talked a little more about humility and how hard it would be to give half of our stuff to the poor. And then I left.
A good seed was planted yesterday. Using Zacchaeus as the soil. I wonder what the Lord will do with that one?
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