(Photo: Timokefoto/Pixabay)
“No, if you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the crippled and the blind. You can count yourself lucky that they have nothing to compensate you with, because God will compensate you at the resurrection of those who did right.” – Luke 14:13-14 (AFR83)
It’s great to hang out with friends, family, colleagues and so on.
It is the case that the people you eat with say something about your priorities. In the interaction between people there are beautiful things. Everyone is built up, encouraged and even equipped and challenged for life.
Eating together without an agenda is very nice. Eating with an agenda compromises our own integrity.
Jesus warns those present to also include people who have nothing to give in the circle of people who are invited to sit at the table together.
Chances are good that the people you invite will invite you back to come to their house as well. There is nothing wrong with that, except if your agenda and intention is to unlock one favor or another. Then you are not honest and your behavior as far as Jesus is concerned is not in order.
Of course, Jesus does not mean that we may not eat together with family, friends and colleagues. On the contrary. Jesus just wants us to examine our motives.
What do we hope will be the fruit of this gathering? Are we willing to also invite people who have nothing to give?
There is no hidden agenda. We eat, hang out and interact without the expectations that things will work out for us going forward. Wow, it comes close to one’s body.
When one reflects on Jesus’ words one must surely say balance. It’s nice to be invited by other people, maybe we secretly hope that this will indeed be the case. However, there is a line that must not be crossed.
A very important statement is made here. Do not expect anything in return in this life, place your hope in what will become your portion in eternity.
Our reward is in heaven. Exactly what that wage entails is not clear and, frankly, doesn’t matter.
For me personally, it is reward enough to be able to share eternity with God Triune and my loved ones.
Eternal life is a gift that God gives us freely in Christ Jesus, the Lord. We cannot work for the favor of God. We just humbly accept it and live it.
The same attitude should apply in our everyday dealings with other people. Grace should characterize our relationship with other people. God has shown us undeserved mercy.
We strive to do the same with people who come across our path.
- ToekomsVenster is a daily message to equip individual believers with practical faith skills. Small group accompaniments, DVDs and functional sermon sketches are available from Drienie ([email protected]) or visit www.toekomsvenster.co.za
