Zacchaeus Was a Wee Little Man

We should not allow our familiarity with a Bible story, especially one sung in Sunday School, to lead us to overlook the message the story gives us. Did you sing this song as a child? I still hear it on occasion as we drive with Stacy in the car. 

What does the story tell us? 

Luke 19

Zacchaeus

My daughter chose this picture! ^1-4Then 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.

 ^5-7When 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?"

 ⁸Zacchaeus 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."

 ^9-10Jesus 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." 

I mentioned yesterday what a tax collector did at that time. 

The Romans did not want to be bothered with collecting taxes from subject peoples. So they would sell the right to collect taxes to locals. The locals would bid on this right to collect taxes from their own people. Then they would collect from the people. As you might imagine, this profession was not well received. 

This was why the crowd grumbled. No doubt there was also an element of envy. But Zacchaeus was honest, he did not collect more money in taxes from the people than was required. There was a strong incentive for a tax collector to collect more than was required because he got to keep it. Zacchaeus knew what the law said about stealing—paying 4 times back was the standard penalty. He never had to pay that penalty because he was honest. 

He also was generous with his giving to the poor. 

This leads me in several directions. First, I am reminded that Biden and Romney have a little different concept of charitable giving. Both are in the 1% most wealthy based on income. Biden gives 1.6%; Romney gave 16%. Huckabee at the convention got this a little confused. He confused Biden with Obama. Obama gives about 6% a year. I am reluctant to mention the amount I give based on the principle that Jesus mentioned that with regards to giving—to not to let the right hand know what the left hand is doing. But I feel it is needed for the narrative I am building. I gave almost 10% last year. Last year was the worst year I have ever had since graduating college. How much is appropriate to give in your situation? You know best, but somehow I doubt it is 1.6%.  

She must be French.It seems to me that in one way of looking at it the most righteous people must live in France. France's government consumes 50% of the output of the French people. So the average Frenchman must pay almost that much in taxes. Are they as righteous as Zacchaeus? The new tax rate if you earn over 1 million euros will soon be 75%. I suppose this goes to the "poor," and a righteous man needs to give everything to the government to redistribute. It seems to me that since our various governments are the representatives of Babylon the Great, one should avoid paying taxes as much as possible, as long as it is legal. 

My conclusion to the matter is the same as the founder of the Methodist Church—John Wesley. "Earn all you can; save all you can; give all you can." This is biblical.