God of the journey, walk with this dear reader in all they face today; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Here is our text for today: Luke 14: 1 On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely. 7 When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. 8 "When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; 9 and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, "Give this person your place,' and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, "Friend, move up higher'; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. 11 For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." 12 He said also 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, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14 And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
The United States is a food-oriented society. The business world is usually a food-oriented environment. Take for instance, your wanting to meet with someone, you might say, "Let's have lunch." Or if you and your spouse want to meet or get to know someone better you say, "Come over for supper." And once you do that, the obligation is usually, "Gosh, now I owe him/her lunch" or "Now we have to have them over." And so it goes. What about churches? "We're having a covered dish!" And in our fellowship (shouldn't they have been named Food Halls?) halls, the miles of different kinds of food will line not only the desires of our palates but also the walls of our mouths as we savor and devour all that has been set before us.
But Jesus was not talking about food, he was talking about people and our attitudes towards others and ourselves. The position or place we occupy is not as important as the occasion that brings us together. While seating assignments in most cultures does represent honor and prestige (or the lack thereof), Jesus said to take a humble attitude towards that; sit where you're invited. And as a challenge to why we eat with others in the first place, Jesus challenges us to open our tables and hearts not just to those to whom we may owe a meal, He said, "Invite the poor, the cripples, the lame, and the blind." What God has shared with us we should share with those whom may never repay us, but God will. Our blessing will be great at the right time.
How are we doing God's business? Are we truly fellowshipping with all or has it become simply an exclusive supper or lunch club to which only the "right" people are invited? Is our dining an expression of our devotion, concerned not with food, but with sharing that which God has shared with us?
PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for all that I have. As I enjoy what You have shared, let me share with others, especially with those who cannot share with me. Give to me the right spirit and attitude towards You, others, and myself. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
