But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.” vs. 13
Luke 14:12-14
Jesus doesn’t seem to care if his host was offended by his parting remarks. In fact, he’s oblivious to the social conventions that are so important in our world. When we interact with others, whether inviting folks over to our homes for a meal, or going out to eat with friends and acquaintances, most people are always keeping a record, either in their heads or on their calendars. There’s a certain equilibrium that requires keeping track of whose turn it is to be the host. But Jesus seems to be a fan of letting things get out of balance. He thinks it’s far better to invite people who have no way of returning the invitation. He wants us to connect with people out of the goodness of our hearts and never worry about evening up the score. That’s hard to do! So much of our generosity is calculated and done with the expectation of return. How much better it is to seek out people who really need our kindness and help and have no expectation that there is going to be a return on our investment! There are plenty of poor, crippled, lame, and blind people in the world who need our care, and if our gifts aren’t paid back, it’s nothing to worry about. In our giving, God’s blessings will abound, and that’s what counts.
Thought for the Day: When do I play the “whose turn is it” game?
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