Zacchaeus: From Greed To Generosity Series

Ill:

• Ade Goodchild, aged 58 has made many the headlines this week.

• He is the winner of the EuroMillions lottery jackpot.

• He joked he will spend his £71 million EuroMillions jackpot;

• “On wine and women and “waste the rest”.

• I hope Ade enjoys his money, but he might just discover what many others have;

• That money CANNOT buy the important things in life,

• Because they are gifts from God.

Quote:

“Money can buy a bed but not sleep;

Money can buy books but not brains;

Money can buy a clock but not time

Money can buy food but not appetite;

Money can buy finery but not beauty;

Money can buy a house but not a home;

Money can buy medicine but not health;

Money can buy position but not respect

Money can buy blood but not life

Money can buy sex but not love

Money can buy insurance but not safety

Money can buy food but not appetite

Money can buy luxuries but not culture;

Money can buy amusements but not happiness;

Money can buy a cross but not a saviour;

Money can buy a passport to everywhere but not to heaven.”

• TRANSITION:

• The crowd thought Zacchaeus was rich, because he had lots of money;

• But as far as God was concerned, he was spiritually poor. Spiritually bankrupt.

• Notice the irony; at the end of the story when he gives his wealth away,

• It is then that he actually becomes rich!

“‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.”

Note:

• Zacchaeus was not saved, made right with God because he gave his money away.

• That was the evidence of his faith and not the cause of his faith.

• When we have a true encounter with Jesus Christ;

• He brings change and a desire to change.

• The Bible uses the word, ‘repentance’.

• Which means to ‘turn around’

Ill:

• Zacchaeus is a perfect example of repentance.

• Before he came to faith in Jesus Christ, he was a thief.

• In verse 8 where he says; “if I have cheated anybody out of anything”

• Listen, there was no doubt in anyone s mind that he had cheated people.

• But that was Zacchaeus before he met Jesus.

• Now his attitude is changed because his heart is changed!

• Under Old Testament law.

• When a thief confessed to his crime, he had to restore what he took.

• And add one-fifth to it, and also bring a trespass offering to the Lord.

• (Leviticus chapter 6 verses 1-7).

• If he stole something he could not restore,

• He had to repay double (Exodos chapter 22 verse 1).

• I love the fact that Zacchaeus does not quibble over the terms of the Law,

• He offers to pay the highest price (vs 8):

“Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.’”

• The irony in this story is this;

• Zacchaeus became poorer by giving away his money,

• So, he actually became richer in the eyes of God!

Notice:

• Jesus did not tell Zacchaeus to act this way,

• Zacchaeus already knew in his heart what the problem was and what he needed to do.

• And I would guess this morning there are people here just like Zacchaeus,

• You know what is wrong between you and God,