RC Principle #2

#2 : Invest Relationally in Others

“When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.” Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy.” Luke 19:5-6

We are continuing our look at the gospels where Redemptive Compassion principles shine like jewels in the life of Christ. One consistent theme is that Jesus sees things differently than we do. He sees people for who they truly are. And how people are seen makes all the difference in the trajectory of their lives.

In Luke 19, Jesus encounters a man named Zaccheus - a story familiar to many of us who grew up in church. But the fact that Zaccheus was short and had to climb a sycamore tree to see Jesus may be the least important details of the story. As a tax collector for the Roman Empire, Zaccheus was viewed as a traitor and sinner of the worst kind. People were shocked that Jesus would interact with such a man, much less set foot in his home.

Not only did Jesus interact with Zaccheus - he did so relationally. He called him by name, invited him to come down from the tree and offered to come to his home. Zaccheus was honored and overjoyed that Jesus would want to spend time with him. And the relational investment was transformative as Zaccheus willingly acknowledged his sins and decided to make restitution to those he had wronged. 

Jesus is the master of investing relationally in others. He gives His attention, His presence and His perfect balance of grace and truth. The opposite of relational is “transactional” - a mechanical exchange of goods or information. How often do I interact with people in a transactional rather than a relational way?

Lord - open my eyes and my heart to invest in people relationally like you do.