City Life Starter

Written by Aisha Darwesh

The Word

¹ Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. ² There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. ³ He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. ⁴ So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way. ⁵ When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.” ⁶ Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy.

⁷ But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled. ⁸ Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”⁹ Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. ¹⁰ For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

Luke 19:1-10 (NLT)

Aisha’s Analysis

In the story of Jesus and Zacchaeus, we see how Jesus generates joy and generosity. Luke 19:2 indicates Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector and very rich. Despite all of his wealth, Zacchaeus desired more. This shows us the limitations of wealth and earthly riches. While it can certainly make life more comfortable, money does not have the power to satisfy our souls. Only God can do that. 

In his desperation to get a glimpse of Jesus, Zacchaeus climbed a tree and ended up having a personal encounter with Jesus. This resulted in Jesus coming over for dinner! At this, Zacchaeus was filled with so much joy and excitement that he made a bold and generous proclamation to give to the poor and rectify his past mistakes with interest. 

What spurred Zacchaeus’s sudden burst of generosity? We see from the text it was Jesus entering his life in a deep and meaningful way. When God enters the picture, everything else pales in comparison. I’m sure Zacchaeus previously took great comfort in his wealth because he was essentially an outcast as a tax collector. However, Jesus flipped his world upside down. He no longer relied on his wealth or his profession as his source. He no longer needed it. He identified Jesus as his true source. 

Jesus honored Zacchaeus, calling him a “true son of Abraham.” This speaks to the great faith Zacchaeus displayed in trusting in Jesus over his money. The love of money no longer gripped Zacchaeus’s life. Jesus made a lasting impact on him, and changed his life for the better. 

Application

Giving is a great way to display faith in God. It’s a practical way to tell ourselves that we do not see money or other commitments as our source, but God alone. Like we saw in the story of Zacchaeus, giving should not come from a place of compulsion or guilt, but rather it’s a joyful, organic response to the great grace God has lavished upon us by coming into our world. 

Spend time with Jesus today and ask Him in what way you can be generous to others. He may drop a certain dollar amount in your heart to bless somebody or prompt you to call, text, or visit someone offering them your time and attention. 

There are many ways to be generous, but only one Source. It’s impossible to sustain generosity and joy without Jesus. However, by shifting your attention to Jesus and making Him the center of your life, generosity will overflow out of you effortlessly and creatively. 

Prayer

Father God, I acknowledge You as my true and only Source. Only You can satisfy me on a soul-level. Without You, I am utterly depleted. Fill me afresh, oh God, that I may spill over with love and generosity towards others. In Jesus’ name, amen.