Luke 14:12-14 Jesus said to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”
The Lord encourages us to use our gifts and live our lives in ways that serve others. To some, God has given the gift of hospitality. In today’s text, a certain Pharisee is hosting a banquet. Jesus uses the opportunity to teach a lesson.
The Lord doesn’t want us to use our gifts to impress others. The Pharisee used the event to boost his stature among a group of important and influential people. Reciprocal invitations are expected. Instead, Jesus speaks of humility and a concern for others, no matter their status. Look to serve those outside your normal, comfortable circle of friends and family… the poor and the handicapped. He wants us to reach out to the same people he reached out to when he was serving on the earth. Furthermore, he wants us to do so with genuine love in our hearts.
Jesus practiced what he preached and he asks us to do the same. I encourage us to think about this next time we have a dinner party. God blessed us with talents so we can serve those who are normally rejected. Let’s remember them! It will likely take us out of our comfort zone and bless us at the same time.
Prayer
Father God we ask you to give us your eyes and your loving heart as we reach out to others. Help us see those that you want us to reach. Open our eyes wide and our hearts, so that we are compelled to invite them into our homes. Touch them through us as we surrender to your will.
In Jesus name, Amen
Terry Smith
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