A Relationship with a King T

he Creation account promotes the often elusive joining of human beings in mind, body, and spirit. Relationship, both earthly and divine, is the second perpetual monument established in Eden, right after the Sabbath.

God created Adam as a perfect being, placed him in a perfect setting, and gave him a perfect assignment—to care for the world and everything in

“necessary” is better translated as “primary.” Yes, it’s good to prepare food and care for visitors. However, our primary goal must be to cultivate a relationship with the Lord.

The second story is reported in Luke 19:1-10. Zacchaeus was a tax collector working for the despised Romans. He was hated by other Jews and excluded from their religious community.

Zacchaeus convinced himself that his possessions could compensate for his lack of relationships. But, in time, he came to feel that something was missing in his life, and he wanted to see Jesus. So up a sycamore tree he climbed.

Suddenly he heard Jesus inviting Himself to his house for lunch. At that moment, something changed in that “wee little man.” He found himself reconnecting with his core identity as a social being. “So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly” (Luke 19:6).

Both Mary and Zacchaeus confirmed a permanent reversal of priority with their future actions: Mary anointed Jesus’ feet (John 12:3) and Zacchaeus gave half his possessions to the poor (Luke 19:8).

The mission of Jesus is to lead people to put relationship first.

Feeling of emptiness

There’s an innate desire in all humans to improve the quality of their lives. The problem lies with the strategy that the world is suggesting we use to accomplish that: hard work and acquire as much as possible. But, after one has filled his or her belly, pockets, house, and bank account, it’s common for a feeling of emptiness to prevail.

In Eden, humanity was created to prioritize a relationship with God and others. The absence of this foundation cannot be compensated for by hard work or possessions. We must choose to live according to our core identity—in a deep and satisfying relationship with God and our fellow human beings.