Straight Thinking 020468 the Makings of a Man
Straight Thinking
020468
THE MAKINGS OF A MAN
Sunday. “And he was rich.” Zacchaeus, the tax collector, had plenty of what most young people hope to have when they become adults. A lot of people have a continuing objective of having a bigger income. Young people make plans to get a college education because they realize that it will probably enable them to get a higher paying job. But “people’s lives do not consist of the abundance of what they own.” (Read Luke 12:15.) What is your goal in life?
Monday. “Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector.” He held a position where he could pull strings that would dump in his lap as much as he wanted. The Roman government required a certain amount of taxes from each province in the empire, but many chief publicans increased the local tax payment and kept the excess for themselves. If you obtain a position of authority, do you think you can be adult enough to resist the temptation of graft and corruption? (Read James 1:12.)
Tuesday. “He was short.” Our teen years involve a time of notable growth spurts. Boys measure frequently to make sure they’re still growing. They look forward to being tall enough to tease mom and dad about being short. But the measure of a man is the size of his heart, not how high his head is. (Read 1 Samuel 9:2, 16; 15:23; Luke 19:8.) How tall are you?
Wednesday. “He climbed up a sycamore tree.” Young people tend to be overly sensitive about what others think. It’s part of the quest for self-esteem. But Zacchaeus, a public official, threw away his false face of dignity and pride in order to fulfill his purpose. And, as is so often the case, the text doesn’t indicate that anyone thought his actions were strange. (Read Matthew 15:12-14.)
Thursday. “He hurried.” We learn a lot about Zacchaeus by noticing what he got excited about. Likewise, we tell a lot about ourselves by what we’re enthusiastic about. Out of the many exciting things to do these days, we must select the important ones and give our energies to them if we want to make anything out of ourselves. There’s not enough time to do everything. (Read 6:11-12.)
Friday. “He welcomed him gladly.” That joy was not dampened by the critical crowd—“a man that’s a sinner.” Zacchaeus was more interested in the Lord’s proposal to stay at his house. The one that receives Jesus must receive him joyfully or not at all, because even the Lord of heaven and earth does not force open our hearts; he stands at its door and knocks. (Read Revelation 3:20.)
Saturday. “He tried to see Jesus.” Zacchaeus overcame the press of the crowd and the disadvantage of his stature in order to get a glimpse of Jesus. There are always plenty of things that stand between us and Christ, but we must overcome them if we want the Lord to abide with us and bring salvation to our house. (Read Luke 19:9.)
Virgil Warren, Straight, February 4, 1968, p13 christir.org