Building with Purpose

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In Luke 19:1–10, we meet a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector, wealthy, and—if we’re honest—widely despised by his community. Yet this unlikely character shows us something profound about what it means to build with purpose.

When Jesus was passing through Jericho, Zacchaeus ran ahead of the crowd, climbed up a sycamore tree, and positioned himself where he could see the Lord. What strikes me is how eager Zacchaeus was—he ran, he climbed, and when Jesus called him, he quickly and joyfully responded.

That eagerness reveals a heart that was ready. And it makes me pause and ask: How eager am I to see Jesus? Do I run toward Him, respond quickly to His word, and welcome Him joyfully?

Jericho itself was no small town—it was wealthy, beautiful, even called “a divine region” by Josephus. Zacchaeus, at the very center of this important city, could have easily cared more about pride or peer pressure than chasing after God. But he didn’t. He climbed a tree in front of the very people who despised him. That’s purposeful building.

And Jesus noticed. He looked up, called Zacchaeus by name, and went to his house. Imagine how radical that was—no Jew would have chosen to stay with a tax collector, let alone a chief tax collector. Yet Jesus showed love and respect to the one everyone else had written off. He was building with purpose.

And that love changed Zacchaeus. He stood before the Lord and pledged to give half of his possessions to the poor and repay anyone he had cheated four times over. This wasn’t commanded—it was compelled by gratitude. His encounter with Jesus transformed him from a man who lived for greed into a man willing to give up the very thing he once prized most.

That’s what building with purpose looks like. It’s not about following rules out of duty, but being so moved by Jesus’ love that we can’t help but respond.

It’s the same call on us today. Ephesians 2:10 tells us we were created in Christ to do good works. Jesus calls us to be fishers of men (Mark 1) and to walk as He walked (1 John 2:6). The Great Commission in Matthew 28 makes it clear: building God’s kingdom means making disciples of all nations. The apostles gave their very lives to carry that mission forward. Where would we be if they hadn’t?

We too are called to build with purpose—whether through sharing our faith, giving sacrificially, or simply choosing to live for Christ rather than for ourselves.

Right now, God has given us an incredible opportunity as a church family. After years of searching, He’s provided us with a building—perfect in location, size, and condition. It’s more than a building; it’s a place where lives will be changed, where families will be strengthened, where disciples will be made. But to make it ours, it will take sacrificial giving. Just like Zacchaeus, just like the early disciples, it’s about the heart.

This September, we’ll come together for a special contribution. It’s not about equal giving, but equal sacrifice. Maybe for you that means selling something you no longer use, cutting back on something temporary, or reordering your priorities. Whatever it looks like, remember: when we build with purpose, we build God’s way.

As we take communion, let’s reflect on this. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:14–15 that the love of Christ compels us. Jesus died for us, so that we might no longer live for ourselves, but for Him. Zacchaeus was compelled, not commanded. We too are invited to respond out of gratitude, not obligation.

“Building with Purpose is Building God’s Way.” Let’s commit ourselves—our lives, our resources, our hearts—to that calling.