Loving the unloveable

Burning Bridges of personal relationship for Buckets of personal wealth...

Isn't it curious that the band of disciples that the Lord chose to follow him on earth included tax revolt zealots as well as tax collectors? How amazing to see that the Lord Jesus has taken the position of looking up to the despised figure of Zaccheus...(Luke 19:5)

In the 1980's, a simple diagram drawn on a table napkin illustrated the Laffer curve. This demonstrated the acceptable tax rates at which the government can function without suppressing business activity. This simple illustration at once showed both the necessity of taxes and the point at which it becomes an unnecessary evil.

Like most folks, we dislike taxes and tax collectors but the Jewish people of first century Israel hated them with a passion. They were usually recruited from among the Jewish populace and it was common practice to use the power of Rome to extract their fees from the taxed. We read that he was chief of the tax collectors, he was rich and he was despised...

They were not only considered thieves but traitors. That placed Zaccheus in an isolated position with the only comraderie being among fellow thieves and traitors. The trade off for unsavory company is often great wealth. Yet we find him abandoning all of that to join himself to Jesus.

On top of this we also learn that Zaccheus was a small man. He strikes me as a goal oriented man who doesn't allow much to get in his way. Yet in spite of his personal achievements, he is a person that is looked down upon, both physically and morally by Jewish and Roman society as well.

It may be possible that someone reading this has made a habit of burning bridges of personal relationship in order to pursue personal wealth....

How amazing to see that the Lord Jesus has taken the position of looking up to this despised figure. He not only takes a position of humility but takes it upon Himself to invite Himself to Zacchaeus' dinner table. This was remarkably politically incorrect. Jesus was a recognized teacher in Israel with a huge following that just exposed Himself to ridicule for rubbing shoulders with an enemy of Israel.

I have personal disdain for governmental over reach with confiscatory taxes and its consequent consolidation of governmental power. This is mollified only by the instructions of the Lord Jesus to stay my indignation and pay tribute unto whom tribute is due.

It nevertheless galls me and many Americans to see the immoral misuse of tax monies constituting legalized theft of productive citizens in the form of welfare for those who choose not to work, as well as institutionalized murder in the form of government subsidized abortions. Thankfully, that burden of judgment against such is not mine to shoulder - It belongs to a just God.

Yet it is that same justice that holds me accountable and finds me greatly wanting in sound moral choices. It is such justice that shows me my need of a savior and leaves me to marvel that the just God should also be my justifier.

That is, He that has every right to condemn me includes me in his odd little band instead. This is not possible apart from the redemption found in Christ Jesus.  The Lord Jesus is not only the savior of sinners like myself but He actually draws near to my natural enemies in order to deflate my moral rectitude.

Our cultural distinctions of morality are irrelevant to a Holy God. We are alike in our corruption and depravity. He delights in including the outcast, choosing the foolish over the wise and the morally weak over the self proclaimed righteous. (1 Corinthians 1:27)

This gives great hope to any who find themselves too foolish, too weak, too far gone to ever be accepted by God.  In fact it is only those who see their depravity that can have God revealed to them.  Jesus declared that He came not to call the righteous, but the sick to repentance. (Mark 2:17)

Personal wealth has nothing over a personal Savior.
"Come unto me, all of you that are weak and heavy laden and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28)