When we think of great acts of generosity, what comes to mind? Is it an endowment at a university? Is it a building or a stretch of interstate highway named after a generous donor? Is it the great industrialists and philanthropists of the early twentieth century? Or is it Mother Teresa, whose life’s work was spent serving the poor in the slums of Calcutta?
The story of Zacchaeus illustrates a godly change of heart. I believe Zacchaeus desperately sought out Jesus because this wealthy, greedy tax collector knew in his heart that he had been stealing from his people—and from God. He no longer wanted to be a thief; instead, he desired to work honestly so he could share with anyone in need (Eph. 4:28).
I love reading classic literature. Over the past twenty-five years, I have read at least a few hundred classic novels from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. My favorite author, by far, is Charles Dickens. His character development and plot twists are exceptional. No matter how depressing the story may seem, love always wins the day.
If you want an easy introduction to Dickens—just over 150 pages—try A Christmas Carol. We all know the story, and most film adaptations stay remarkably faithful to the book. My kids and I have a tradition of watching The Muppet Christmas Carol every Christmas Eve. Early in the story, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his old business partner, Jacob Marley (the Muppets’ version has the Marley brothers, but I digress). When Scrooge reminds his old partner that he was a “good man of business,” Marley laments:
“Business!… Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence were all my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!”
Those words have stayed with me from the moment I first read them. I didn’t have quite the Scrooge-level epiphany, but they were profound nonetheless. I realized that, like Zacchaeus, God calls us not to be rich merely in this life, but to invest in the next. Do I still cling too tightly at times to my time, talent, and treasure? Absolutely. But, like the Grinch, my heart continues to grow through the grace of Jesus Christ. I pray that each of you will trust God enough to make “mankind your business.”
If you’d like to read more Dickens:
- A Tale of Two Cities or Great Expectations — the timeless classics.
- Little Dorrit or Our Mutual Friend — underrated masterpieces.
- Dombey and Son — especially for fathers with daughters. Keep a box of tissues nearby.
