How low...

...are you willing to go in order to go up?

This passage brought this question to mind.

Luke 19: 1-4 - Then Jesus entered and walked through Jericho. There was a man there, his name Zacchaeus, the head tax man and quite rich. He wanted desperately to see Jesus, but the crowd was in his way - he was a short man and couldn’t see over the crowd. So he ran on ahead and climbed up in a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus when he came by. (Message)

The details are key...
1. Zacchaeus was a really rich man but was aware of what was happening in his city
2. He was so desperate to see Jesus that he

• acknowledged his inadequacies
• climbed a tree which must have been beneath someone of his status

Zacchaeus may have seemed "settled" by the world's standards but he remained honest to himself about what - more like, Who he lacked in his life. The other thing is he obviously didn't care what people would say about a rich man "stooping low" enough to climb a sycamore tree to see Jesus.

2 things to note about the sycamore tree:

1. It is tall compared to other trees so it must have taken an effort on his part. This can be likened to how earnest our prayers should be.
2. It gives excellent shade. So maybe Zacchaeus saw climbing this tree as a way to get to eternal shade

God's promise in Jeremiah 29:13-14a obviously came true in Zacchaeus' life. It says: “When you come looking for me, you’ll find me. Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.” God’s Decree. (Message)

Zacchaeus only wanted to see Jesus but got much more than that  - even to his family's benefit just because he humbled himself.

Being humble takes us higher in life - it's a promise from God, repeated more than once:

Be humble before the Lord, and he will make you great.*

So be humble under God’s powerful hand. Then he will lift you up when the right time comes.**

So how "low" are you willing to go in order to go higher? Remain humble...

References:
* James 4:10 - ERV
** 1 Peter 5:6 - ERV