[Songs in the Night - October 29]
And Zaccheus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. Luke 19:8
WE BELIEVE that many today make a mistake in
that they do not more fully follow the course of
Zaccheus—in that they continue to hold on to something
which really, rightfully, belongs to another; and
secondly, that they do not consecrate more of their
wealth of money or property or time or talent to the
Lord.
Zaccheus was a Jew, and under the requirements
of the Law one-tenth of his yearly increase
would be his obligation to religious matters.
But he
far exceeded this, giving not merely a half of his
annual income, but a half of all the principal, of all the
money and property and goods which he possessed.
Some have inquired of us, What is the reasonable obligation
of a Christian?
We answer that our reasonable
service should surely be more than the one-tenth of
the Jews.
To our understanding Zaccheus did not even
go the full length of a complete sacrifice. Z'06-280 R3849:4 (Hymn 8)