Windfall Profits.

Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold." Luke 19:8

A windfall profit is a profit that is realized by a company through no action of its own but is produced by an outside event. Utilities make more money when a winter has lower than normal temperatures or a summer has higher than normal temperatures and air conditioner use is up substantially. Oil companies are the beneficiaries of windfall profits when prices rise because of shortages. The key factor in a windfall profit is there is no advance warning that an unexpected gain is about to come. Governments worldwide tend to tax these business gains more heavily using the argument the profit was unexpected. As Christians, what should we do as a resulted of the unmerited favor we have gained as believers?

We are introduced to Zacchaeus in the 19th chapter of Luke. In the first sentence we learn that Zacchaeus is rich. He is rich, we learn, because he is a chief tax collector. That is how we know his wealth comes from the opportunity he frequently has to levy heavy surcharges on taxes thus, in effect, taking from others. But the Zacchaeus we meet is diligently seeking to see Jesus. Because he was short he climbed a tree. Jesus saw him, called him by name and invited himself to Zacchaeus’s house. The tax collector came down quickly and received Jesus joyfully. Zacchaeus, apparently without prompting, pledged to give back what he took and more. We, like Zacchaeus, have received windfall profits from God. Our lack of commitment, faulty prayer lives, habitual sinning and lackluster service have been rewarded with mercy, grace, love and salvation. On that particular day, Zacchaeus had a revelation which compelled him to begin to live like he understood the significance of God’s love. Shouldn’t we do the same?

My prayer today is to be able to remain aware of the great gift I’ve received and have it affect my daily life.

Deacon Larry Woodard