When Jesus encountered a tax collector named Zacchaeus, his life and the lives of all those he'd previously dealt with, were changed forever. Here's a summary of the story from Luke 19.
Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way. 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.” Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled. 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!” Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” (Luke 19:1-10 NLT) When we are living for our own self-interest, maybe feeding our addictions, it is easy to become consumed by our own wants or needs. Nothing matters except getting what we crave so desperately. We may have to lie, cheat, kill, or steal; but that doesn’t stop us. Within our families and community we become known as “takers”, trampling over the unseen needs of others. Zacchaeus had the same problem. His hunger for riches drove him to betray his own people by collecting taxes for the oppressive roman government. He was hated by his own people as a thief, an extortioner, and a traitor.
But when Jesus reached out to him, he changed dramatically. Zacchaeus went beyond just paying back what he had taken. For the first time in a long time, he saw the needs of others and wanted to be a “giver.” Making amends includes paying back what we have taken whenever possible. It means changing our behaviour in other circumstances. Sometimes a changed attitude is what is most effective. In many cases, our changed behaviour is a stronger amends than any words offered. Some of us may even seize the opportunity to go even further, giving even more. We make a choice to begin to see the needs of others and to respond to those needs. As we do so, our own self-esteem will rise. We will begin to realize that we can give to others instead of just being a burden. Making amends is the first step to becoming a “giver.” ©2013 Partners in Hope
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