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Monday, November 19, 2018

Do the rich have to give everything away to be saved?


There are some who believe that you have to give away all worldly possessions to be saved.  Is that true?  Let's see what Jesus has to say on the subject.

Luke 19:1-10(NKJV)
Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 
Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 
And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. 
So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. 
And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” 
So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. 
But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.”
Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”
And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; 
for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

So we have a guy named Zacchaeus who the Bible tells us is rich.  Jesus decides to stay at Zacchaeus' house.  Zacchaeus tells Jesus that he gives half of his goods to the poor and that he is a pretty just guy in other ways as well.

What does Jesus say at this point?  Does Jesus send Zacchaeus to hell for not giving away all of his goods? 
 
Nope.  Jesus says "today salvation has come to your house…"

In a case where Jesus could have sent a clear message by condemning Zacchaeus, Jesus instead gives Zacchaeus salvation. 

Seems pretty clear to me!!!

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