SCRIPTURE: Luke 19
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
‘It is written,’ he said to them, ‘My house will be a house of prayer ; but you have made it a den of robbers.’ [Luke 19:46] Again and again the Lord stresses WHY we are blessed. God lives among us (symbolized by the temple) and blesses us so that we can lead others to Him (a people, a place of prayer). But too often we selfishly horde His blessing for ourselves – and still seek more (a den of robbers?). This is how God views His people when they do not put His blessing to work until He comes back [Luke 19:13].
Zacchaeus was no different than the Pharisees, he too was a thief. Tax collectors not only collected the required tax, but they demanded extra. But something amazing happens, he is converted, he becomes generous! For a person who all his life lived for selfish gain to suddenly commit half his wealth to the poor, and use the rest to pay back that he wronged [Luke 19:8] – now that’s a miracle!!!! He is converted (salvation) to a son of Abraham, an agent of blessing [Genesis 12:1-2].
The donkey is taken for Jesus with the message ‘the Lord needs it.’ [Luke 19:31]. The parable of the king and his money lets it be known that all that we have is from the Lord, and He needs it. He says to us about our time, talents and treasures, ‘I need it’! Will we respond like Zacchaeus? Or will Jesus weep over us too [Luke 19:41]? Reading Luke is convicting me! We have made church about getting forgiveness and going to haven, but Jesus makes it absolutely clear that He has other priorities. And one day He will come back, to see what we did with His blessings. Look at the criteria He will use to evaluate what we did [Matthew 25:31-46].
God intended His people to be an avenue of blessing for the nations, so that they might come back to Him. Jesus commissioned His followers to live selflessly and generously for others, especially the poor and needy, just like He did. And yet have we made ‘church’ a place for ourselves, where our needs are met, our loved ones are served, our tastes in worship and programming are satisfied? Have we directed our resources and money for inward-focused ministry? Have we turned His house into a ‘den of robbers’?
The real test of conversion, of whether our commitment to the Lord is sincere, is whether we become generous and compassionate.
PRAYER:
Lord, You need my money, my time, my talents, my life. May I experience the same kind of transformation as Zacchaeus – please make me generous and compassionate!
A couple of items hit me as I read this passage.
The first was the going done the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem – the praises were for the miracle the people had seen. They had seen the presence of God in their lives and He had made things whole again. The kingdom was coming, is coming by the miracles, the show and tell God’s people do from day to day. God is here and now at work. Do I have the eyes of faith to see Him?
The second – He was teaching at the temple. He was radical but the people listened. The religious leaders saw Him as usurping their followers. The temple was a house of prayer. How is my prayer life? How important are my talks with God? For whom do I pray? And when I leave the ‘temple’ do I feel refreshed in the Lord to do His work?
That’s my assignment – to go out from there to proclaim the Good News and be Christian by name – doing the work of Christ. Thank You Lord for the refueling each week so I am able to use the talents for Your kingdom building.
All that I am I owe to Thee,
Thy wisdom, Lord, has fashioned me;
I give my Maker thankful praise,
Whose wondrous works my soul amaze.
Ere into being I was brought,
Thine eye did see, and in Thy thought
My life in all its perfect plan
Was ordered ere my days began.
Thy thoughts, O God, how manifold,
More precious unto me than gold!
I muse on their infinity,
Awaking I am still with Thee.
Search me, O God, my heart discern,
Try me, my inmost thought to learn;
And lead me, if in sin I stray,
To choose the everlasting way.