Tuesday Read: The Trap of Wealth

Meet Zacchaeus, the tax collector who climbed a tree to see Jesus. Luke doesn't call him rich—he calls him "very rich" (Luke 19:2). In first-century Palestine, tax collectors were the ultimate capitalists, extracting profits from an oppressive system while their neighbors suffered under Roman occupation. Zacchaeus had made his fortune by exploiting his own people, charging inflated taxes and pocketing the difference. He was financially successful by every measure his society valued. Then he met Jesus, and everything changed. Without being asked, he declared: "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).

Notice that Jesus didn't tell Zacchaeus to give away his wealth—the man volunteered it. Why? Because once you truly encounter Christ, you realize that money is a master pretending to be a servant. Jesus warned, "No one can serve two masters... You cannot serve God and money" (Matthew 6:24). The Greek word for money here is "mammon"—not just currency, but the entire system of valuing life by accumulation. It's the belief that security comes from savings accounts, that worth is measured by net worth, that more stuff equals more satisfaction.

The early church's response to wealth was radical. Acts 2:44 tells us they "had all things in common," selling possessions to care for anyone in need. This wasn't socialism—it was voluntary generosity motivated by love. They understood that everything belonged to God and they were merely stewards. When Ananias and Sapphira lied about their giving, they died—not because they kept money, but because they pretended to be generous while serving mammon (Acts 5:1-11).

America's consumer culture has made mammon worship respectable, even among Christians. We tithe our 10% and feel free to worship wealth with the remaining 90%. We pray for God's blessing while living in luxury that would make ancient kings jealous. We sing "Jesus Paid It All" on Sunday while our credit cards pay for everything on Monday. Paul's words pierce through our rationalizations: "The love of money is a root of all kinds of evils" (1 Timothy 6:10).

If Jesus audited your bank statements, your shopping habits, and your conversations about money, what would he find? Are you serving God with your wealth, or is your wealth keeping you from serving God? The rich young ruler walked away sad because he loved his possessions more than he loved Jesus (Mark 10:22). What would you walk away sad about giving up?