How do you define the people you meet or know? This past Sunday I preached on Zaccheus and I noticed something very interesting about verse 2 and as I thought through it a bit more, there was real truth to see. Here is Luke 19:2, get ready for a powerful verse. “And there was a man named Zaccheus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich”. 3 things are given here in how we define people.
1. His Name – We see he is called something, Zaccheus, that is the name his parents gave him. As kids, our name is just our name, but as adults, our name is connected to our character. When people hear our name, what thoughts do they think? Are they pleasant or does our name bring up other thoughts?
2. What he did – We see that by his occupation he was a “chief tax collector”. One of the first things we do when we meet people is to find out what they do for an occupation. We get sized up, and we size others up by what they and we do, how well we do it, or what the future that it might provide.
3. What he owned – This is where we really place value on others. How much they have or don’t have or once had or will have. We call people poor, rich, middle class, blue collar, from the wrong side of the tracks, what kind of car, educated or not educated, and on and on. This one is ridiculous, but we do it.
The world places much value on #2 and #3, but what does God think about it all. God places value on #1. The view of our name is built upon the decisions we have made, that build the content of our character into godliness. His is what the writer in Proverbs 22:1 says, “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.” The only thing for us as believers to see our name be one that is noble, is to be passionate God-seekers. The Holy Spirit transforms us as we look at the glory of Christ and his character becomes the content of our character.
