A Gospel for the Wealthy

August 10

(Acts 16:11-15 NIV) ““From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day on to Neapolis. {12} From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days. {13} On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. {14} One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message. {15} When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. "If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us.””

(Luke 19:1-10 NIV) ““Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. {2} A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. {3} He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. {4} So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. {5} When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." {6} So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. {7} All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.'" {8} But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." {9} Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. {10} For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.””

(James 2:19 NIV) “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.”

Paul’s mission team traveled to Philippi in Macedonia, where they met a woman named Lydia who was a “dealer in purple cloth”. Purple cloth was worn by royalty, high government officials, and the very wealthy. Lydia didn’t just run a small retail store, she was a wholesaler. This means that a wealthy business woman was Paul’s first convert in Macedonia. The gospel of Jesus Christ is not just for the poor. Jesus also died for those who are rich. Lydia believed in God, but was not a Christian. She was “a worshipper of God”, but still needed to hear the gospel, believe, and be born again. Many people today say they believe in God, and think that this makes them a “Christian”. But believing in God, even being a worshipper of God, is not enough. We must be saved by grace, through faith, and surrender our lives to Jesus Christ. Rich or poor alike must come to know and follow the Son. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day