Luke 14:12-14


Luke 14:12-14
12 And He also went on to say to the one who had invited Him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, otherwise they may also invite you in return and that will be your repayment. 13 “But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Hospitality is an important part of our lives before God.  He wants us to use our homes as a place of ministry and service to others.  Too often we view our homes as a sort of refuge for ourselves instead of a tool for the Lord’s use.  Both Jesus and Paul talked about the importance of hosting.  In today’s text Jesus explains some principles we should keep in mind as we consider our ministry of hospitality.  Like everything in life, there are things we can do in a way that counts for eternity, or we can do them in a way that only has temporal consequences.  Today’s passage helps us understand how we can be hosts that count for eternity.

HOSTING THE RICH IS IMMEDIATELY REWARDED: When we form our guest lists for important event in our lives; we naturally think of friends, family and neighbors.  Those who are close to us and similar to us are the people we naturally gravitate towards.  Having a dinner party for these people comes very natural to us.  Jesus teaches His host that this practice is not necessarily sinful, but that it is not prudent because it will likely result in a reciprocal response in the form of an invitation from these guests for us to attend an event at their home.  This invitation is the immediate and only reward we will receive for following this natural tendency.  Jesus teaches that when we only do that which is natural and expected, our rewards will be experienced on earth.  Eternal rewards are reserved for doing that which is unnatural and demonstrates the work of God in our lives.

HOSTING THE POOR IS ETERNALLY REWARDED: Jesus suggests and alternative public we should prioritize when giving a special dinner.  He admonishes us to include the poor, crippled, lame and blind.  His reason for including these people is that they have no means of returning the favor.  Since they cannot return the favor, God promises to repay this act of kindness at the resurrection of the righteous.  The implication is that it is far better to be rewarded by God in eternity than it is to be repaid my men on the earth.  We may not feel comfortable serving these people, but God has not called us to be comfortable, He has called us to be obedient and live for eternity.  Since it is so easy for us to be motivated by immediate rewards, God calls us to do our best to eliminate any possibility of this kind of motivation.  We must not give in order to get; but give in order to serve others and please God.

APPLICATION: Make sure the motive for all we do is the glory of God and the well being of others and not our own glory.  Be intentional about getting involved in the lives of those who are poor, blind or lame.  Don’t allow our discomfort or desire for convenience rob us of eternal rewards.  Make eternity a priority over the present.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Isaiah 54:1-17

Hope is a wonderful blessing from God, without which we would be vulnerable to all kinds of destructive tendencies in our lives.  Today’s society is marked by depression, anger, fear, anxiety and self-righteousness, in large part, because of the sense of hopelessness that prevails in our culture.  Isaiah writes to a people who are about to be taken into captivity because of their sin.  God knows that they will feel rejected, threatened and hopeless so He reveals His future plans for the nation in order to give them hope in the midst of the coming trial.  Hope is the expectation of good based upon the promises of God.  Many times when our lives are marked by the sins mentioned above it is because we have forgotten or failed to focus upon the promises of God’s Word. THE PROMISE OF GOD: From the very first day that God revealed His plan for the nation of Israel, He promised numerous descendants.  God chose Abraham, not because he was more righteous than a...
Read more

2 Timothy 1:3-7

I thank God   whom I serve, as did my ancestors,   with a clear conscience, as I remember you   constantly in my prayers night and day.    As I remember your tears,   I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy.    I am reminded of   your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and   your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.    For this reason I remind you   to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us   a spirit not of fear but   of power and love and self-control. It is easy for us to forget many important things especially in the face of difficulty or danger.  Paul is in prison and Timothy is facing difficult times in ministry so there are important reminders that Paul wants to make sure that Timothy understands.  God has given us everything we need to face the difficulties He allows i...
Read more

2 Timothy 1:8-14

Therefore   do not be ashamed of   the testimony about our Lord, nor of   me his prisoner, but   share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,   who saved us and   called us to a holy calling,   not because of our works but because of   his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus   before the ages began, and which now has   been manifested through   the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus,   who abolished death and   brought life and   immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But   I am not ashamed, for   I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until   that day   what has been entrusted to me.  Follow   the pattern of   the sound words   that you have heard from me, in   the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ...
Read more