If you’ve ever been laid off and received unemployment insurance you know the saying "able, available, and actively seeking." It’s what you’ve got to do in order to continue receiving those benefits. You are able to work, you are available to accept work, and you are actively seeking to find another job.
Today I want to apply it to two stories in the first half of Luke 19-one real story, and one fictional that Jesus tells. They contrast the idea of able, available, and actively seeking God in the person of Zacchaeus with the servants who received the ten minas or talents-especially the third servant, who was anything but able, available or actively seeking. Zacchaeus wanted God more than anything, and got saved. The last servant wanted nothing to do with his master and so got what he wanted: nothing.
So what is the condition of our hearts when it comes to seeking and serving God? Let’s find out.
Verses 1 - 10 Zacchaeus
Zacchaeus is a study in contradictions. He was small in stature-a "wee little man." He was also hated-not just a tax collector, but a chief tax collector. Tax collectors worked for Rome. They collected taxes from the people, but there was no 1040 to fill out. Basically the Tax Collector told you how much you owed and you either paid or they put you in jail. The amount was flexible depending on how much extra the Tax Collector thought he could get out of you. The Tax Collectors were considered traitors to Rome and were outsiders in Jewish society. They were also outsiders to Rome because they were Jews. Catch 22, right? Matthew was a Tax Collector. I wonder if word didn’t get to Zacchaeus that Jesus had changed Levi’s (Matthew’s) life.
But here’s this shrimp of a traitor living in Jericho. Luke takes pains to note one thing about him. He was rich. Have you ever noticed how money gains respect? I mean, look at Bill Gates. Bill Gates is a geek. He looks like a geek, dresses like a geed, and talks like a geek. In high school we made fun of guys like that. Yet Bill Gates is the richest man in America. I guarantee that if you met Bill Gates you would shake his hand and say "yes, sir, thank you sir, how are you sir?" It’s kind of the "geeks revenge" which I like ’cause I was sort of that way when I was younger, but that’s another story.
So here’s Zacchaeus-ridiculed and abandoned by society, yet feared for his power and respected for his wealth. I’m sure that despite how awful they felt about him, the people also envied him. But at the same time they wished for the fleas on a thousand camels to make their home in his bed, or something.
I want to notice three things about Zacchaeus: his persistence in finding Jesus, his eagerness to approach Jesus, and his willingness to be changed by Jesus. When his environment kept him from seeing the Savior clearly, he moved, even climbed a tree-how much gall did that take? Then when the Holy Spirit revealed to Jesus that there was a man ready to receive Him, He called out and invited Himself into Zacchaeus’ life. So he hurried down with joy-despite the grumbling of those around him. You might think "well, Zacchaeus was pretty lonely so the fact that this important man paid attention to him was the only reason he responded that way."
I don’t think so because not only did he move to find Jesus, come when Jesus called, but then responded by completely repenting of his past life of cheating and stealing. I think this is a great picture of how people can come to Christ, no matter how bad they were, or no matter how far away from the kingdom they appear. Don’t underestimate the power of the gospel to reach a heart that seems hard, and don’t be surprised or even a little put off when a "sinner" turns to Jesus.
So right then, with Zacchaeus fresh on their mind and standing in their midst, He tells this great story about what happens to lives in which the gospel has been planted.
Verses 11 - 27
The parable of the Ten Minas operates on several levels-both historic, specific for the disciples, and also for all those called to serve the King of Kings.
Historically the Jews would have immediately recognized the storyline: in order for someone to be recognized as a king they would have to travel to Rome. One of Herod’s sons, Archelaus, had done so, but he was so evil that the Jews sent a delegation to Rome to plead against him. Archelaus was given the kingdom, but not the title of king until he could prove himself, which he never did. Archelaus had 3,000 Jews killed on his first Passover.
Specific for Israel and for the Disciples-they were expecting a political king to march into Jerusalem and take over-thumbing his nose at Rome and taking back Israel for the Jews. Jesus is telling them that He’ll be gone for a while until He receives His kingdom. In the meantime they were to invest in His ventures.
Probably the most powerful application is to each and every one of us. This king to be picked 10 servants and gave them each about 6 months wages. He wanted to be sure his financial holdings weren’t stagnant while he was away, so they were to do business with the money to make more for him. Two of them did that-the amount they made doesn’t seem to be important, but that they took risk and saw profit for the master.
This to me operates on two levels: 1) what do you with the truth of the gospel and 2) what do you do with your life.
The Gospel-For those who receive the gospel into their hearts, it bears fruit naturally. They invest themselves in what Jesus said and they believed. But what is most interesting is the third servant (no mention of the other 7). The third guy exhibited three characteristics: he wanted nothing to do with the family business, he showed contempt for his master’s will, and he was only thinking of himself. In essence he was saying "I don’t like this guy and don’t want anything to do with him, so when he comes back I’m going to give it back to him as if I never even had it."
The King will tell those who reject the gospel that their very words will condemn them as well.
Matthew12:37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." ESV
Luke 9:26-27 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words , of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. ESV
At the end of the parable, those who rejected his kingship were killed. Thought Archelaus never deserved a kingdom, Jesus is a perfect King. Those that reject His kingship will be forever separated from Him.
God’s Investment in Us-As believers, God gives gifts to each of us:
Romans 12:4-6 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us� ESV
What do you do with the treasure God has placed in you? (2 Corinthians 7:7 "we have this treasure in jars of clay"). Do you take risks, step out in faith, live your Christian faith on the outside? Or do you hide it away so that no one can see it? I’m not saying that God will reject you if you truly believe in Jesus, but note that the one’s who stepped out were given rewards: responsibility over cities.
2 Timothy 2:2 tells us that we will rule with Christ. Our time on earth while waiting for our king to return is like a training ground. God gives us gifts to be nurtured by the power of His Spirit so that when He comes back He we will be ready to do big things for Him.
Right now we are in an apprenticeship program of sorts. We get little tasks to do, and with our failures and successes God teaches us to rely on Him more and more. The question is what is your attitude towards being used by God?
You may not feel worthy of being used, that you aren’t a powerful speaker or great apologist or gifted with doing miracles or making gobs of money for the kingdom. It doesn’t matter. Whatever God gives you, you give of yourself to Him and let Him work through you. Maybe you are a Zacchaeus. You aren’t impressive to people, but God has His eye on you. May we all be like Him that run down from the tree and are anxious to give whatever we have in His service.
