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 8 “And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.”

Luke 19:8


There’s a reason why Jesus warned people against the love of money. It is powerful, allowing one to do nearly everything. That’s why dealing with money requires wisdom from God and a determined will to not make it one’s master.

Zacchaeus is an interesting biblical character. His name, which means “ righteous one” and “pure” was in stark contrast to his life of deception and dishonesty. He was a leader of publicans, also known as tax collectors, who were despised by their fellow Jews. Why? Because not only did they collect more tax from regular folks than they should have, but they also served Gentiles, specifically, the Romans.

However, Zacchaeus’ life took a 180-degree turn when he encountered Jesus. One might assume that his search for Jesus was only out of curiosity, but that doesn’t negate the fact that it can be a sincere desire to pursue the Savior. This chief tax collector was a wretched sinner in the eyes of God, the people, and more importantly, himself. What I admire about Zacchaeus is that he was aware of his condition and knew who to run after.

God already worked in the heart of Zacchaeus, which caused him to chase the Lord seriously. It was atypical for a man, especially of Zacchaeus’ stature, to run down the street, let alone climb up a tree. This is a perfect illustration of what child-like faith looks like.

Verse 8 is proof of Zacchaeus’ genuine conversion. He was willing to return what he took from people—four times! This act was the result, not the prerequisite for his salvation. In addition to restitution, Zacchaeus was also willing to give away half of his net worth to the poor. What makes this offer even more impressive is that no one told him to do those things; he volunteered. He considered material wealth insignificant compared to the freedom he found in Christ. He wanted to be set free from his love of money and lay up treasures in heaven instead. That for me is a clear indication of genuine conversion.

How about you? Have you experienced a certain level of self-awareness that everything you have and everything you do is worthless unless you have Christ? Do you have any desire to let go of your stature and run to Jesus like a child? Ultimately, Zacchaeus lived up to his name. He experienced a dramatic shift in his priorities. He no longer chased money but ran after Christ. You and I should do the same.

Pursue the Saviour today!