Word@Work Luke231 - Luke 14:12-14
Published: Wed, 11/10/10
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Luke 14:12-14 Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbours; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." (NIV)
There is an English expression: "There's no such thing as a free lunch". It means that you can never get something for nothing ... if somebody gives to you it is only because they want something back. While that is a common human idea, it excludes the grace of Christ. Jesus was addressing people who were invited to a feast: they were expected to invite their host back or to give him a gift of some kind. But the Jesus-way of living and loving is different. Jesus said don't invite people who will invite you back, don't give to those who will return the favour. Stop playing social games and give because there is need, and no possibility of recompense in this life.
It has been jokingly said that the rewards of Christian devotion and service are, "out of this world". And that is literally true. No act of kindness goes unnoticed by Jesus. No sacrificial generosity will leave you eternally impoverished. The pay-back is from God Himself - not those whom you have helped - and it comes when Jesus returns and the dead in Christ are raised first. As Hebrews 6:10 says, "God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them."
God has a very long and accurate memory. He remembers those who have already received their reward from human beings and discounts their service as self-seeking. However He also remembers the sacrifice of those who give until it hurts, and beyond. That is not speaking of those who have been manipulated into giving money or services; but of those who have freely chosen to serve their Lord by meeting the need of people who cannot help themselves. That was exactly what Jesus did when He died on the cross - securing salvation for those who could not save themselves. All those who are grateful for what Christ has done should want to show it in much smaller ways as they serve others. Those who refuse to serve or give sacrificially may well have little gratitude.
Prayer: Ever loving God. Thank You for reminding me of this great spiritual principle that we can and should give without any expectation in this life of being paid back for our service. Please forgive me when the sacrifice of Jesus has become so small in my thoughts that I refuse to meet the needs of others at my own expense. Help me to look at the people around me with Christ-like eyes, seeing their needs and being willing to provide for them even at personal cost to my finances, time and energy. May my lifestyle commend the Gospel of Jesus to others as they see sacrificial, non self-seeking service in action, as a parable of the grace of Christ. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
There is an English expression: "There's no such thing as a free lunch". It means that you can never get something for nothing ... if somebody gives to you it is only because they want something back. While that is a common human idea, it excludes the grace of Christ. Jesus was addressing people who were invited to a feast: they were expected to invite their host back or to give him a gift of some kind. But the Jesus-way of living and loving is different. Jesus said don't invite people who will invite you back, don't give to those who will return the favour. Stop playing social games and give because there is need, and no possibility of recompense in this life.
It has been jokingly said that the rewards of Christian devotion and service are, "out of this world". And that is literally true. No act of kindness goes unnoticed by Jesus. No sacrificial generosity will leave you eternally impoverished. The pay-back is from God Himself - not those whom you have helped - and it comes when Jesus returns and the dead in Christ are raised first. As Hebrews 6:10 says, "God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them."
God has a very long and accurate memory. He remembers those who have already received their reward from human beings and discounts their service as self-seeking. However He also remembers the sacrifice of those who give until it hurts, and beyond. That is not speaking of those who have been manipulated into giving money or services; but of those who have freely chosen to serve their Lord by meeting the need of people who cannot help themselves. That was exactly what Jesus did when He died on the cross - securing salvation for those who could not save themselves. All those who are grateful for what Christ has done should want to show it in much smaller ways as they serve others. Those who refuse to serve or give sacrificially may well have little gratitude.
Prayer: Ever loving God. Thank You for reminding me of this great spiritual principle that we can and should give without any expectation in this life of being paid back for our service. Please forgive me when the sacrifice of Jesus has become so small in my thoughts that I refuse to meet the needs of others at my own expense. Help me to look at the people around me with Christ-like eyes, seeing their needs and being willing to provide for them even at personal cost to my finances, time and energy. May my lifestyle commend the Gospel of Jesus to others as they see sacrificial, non self-seeking service in action, as a parable of the grace of Christ. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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