Jesus really included all-sorts in his band of followers! Alongside the fishermen, the zealots, and the ‘sons of thunder’, he also called... a tax man!
“After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of [Matthew] Levi sitting at his tax booth. ‘Follow me,’ Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.
Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them.” - Luke 5:28-29
Tax collectors were mostly despised. By everybody. And yet, not by Jesus. There must be something about Jesus - everyone seems to leave everything behind to follow Him! Matthew even splashes out on a feast, inviting all his colleagues over to celebrate. It’s the greatest “I-Quit” there is! Come and meet the one I’m giving all of this up for!
Matthew shows us that Jesus is worth it.
This meticulous man of money would have been used to calculating options and risk, measures and ledgers; when he meets Jesus he instantly leaves his whole life behind and blows his cash on an epic leaving do. Something big had changed.
Perhaps you’re debating whether following Jesus is worth the risk today. Take Matthew’s word for it. Even if it costs you everything you have, a life following Christ is absolutely worth it all.
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