Just browsing ...

Hennie Symington

Jesus went on into Jericho and was passing through. There was a chief tax collector there named Zacchaeus, who was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he was a little man and could not see Jesus because of the crowd. So he ran ahead of the crowd and climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus, who was going to pass that way. When Jesus came to that place, he looked up and said to Zacchaeus, “Hurry down, Zacchaeus, because I must stay in your house today.”

Zacchaeus hurried down and welcomed him with great joy. Luke 19:1-6

The easiest way of getting rid of an over eager shop assistant is to say: “I’m just browsing.” That means: “I’m interested but not ready to decide. Don’t push me.”

In the Bible we meet a “potential buyer” like this. When a man called Zacchaeus heard that the preacher everyone was talking about was coming to Jericho he also wanted to see him. So he climbed in a tree to watch and listen to him from a distance. Little did he know....

The more we read this story, the more the short man in the fig tree reminds us of someone we know, until you realise: But he looks like me. At times we also sit up in the tree watching the world go by. We don’t get involved; we observe. We are intrigued but prefer to keep our distance. And if someone approaches us we’re quick to say: “No thanks, I’m just looking.”

Perhaps the time is ripe for you to get involved even if it takes a leap of faith to do so. Perhaps it’s time for you to stop looking for the “right place, and the right time” to get involved and just do it.

Zacchaeus climbed down from the tree and look what happened to him! Jesus changed is life in an instant. In stead of just browsing, Jesus taught him to see the world through new eyes.

Jesus isn’t on the way to your part of the woods; he’s already there. And he invites you to be a part of his kingdom, here and now. All you have to do is get out of your hiding place.

Prayer: God keep me from looking at life from a distance. Your invitation stands. Help me to accept it. Amen.