The Secret Of Life

In the Nineteenth Chapter of his Gospel, Luke tells us of Jesus’ encounter with the chief tax collector in Jericho — a man named Zacchaeus, a wealthy man, but “small of stature.” When Jesus came to Jericho, Zacchaeus wanted “to see what He was like.” Why were all those people following Him? What was the secret of His success? Too short to see over the crowd, Zacchaeus climbed a tree. Jesus spotted him and said, “Zacchaeus, hurry down, I mean to stay at your house tonight” (Lk. 19:5). Later, Jesus went to Zacchaeus’ house and engaged His host in earnest conversation. Before they had finished talking, Zacchaeus said, “Behold, Lord, I give one-half of all my possessions to the poor” (Lk. 19:11). Jesus answered, “Today salvation has come to this house” (Lk. 19:11). Zacchaeus had discovered the secret of Jesus’ formula for genuine success.

In a certain seminary, one of the homiletics professors gave his students a book list to read in preparation for…