When it comes to accepting God’s invitation to his kingdom feast, it’s not a time for complacency, but urgency.
Luke 14:15-24
15 When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”
16 Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’
18 “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’
19 “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’
20 “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’
21 “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’
22 “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’
23 “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. 24 I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”
When he tells this story, Jesus is at a meal with other guests at a prominent Pharisee’s house one Sabbath day. He has just healed a man, and in so doing has challenged their long-held rules about what is acceptable to do on that day. Then he talks about pride and humility, tells the guests where they should and shouldn’t sit, tells his host that he has invited the wrong people to the meal…..and now, this – a parable which speaks against the Pharisees themselves. I’m not sure that Jesus was the ideal guest to have at a respectable and polite dinner party!
In reading this story, I am struck by how polite the invited guests’ answers are. They give socially polite excuses. Polite and empty. I am also struck by the fact that the excuses that are mentioned are not actually reasons not to go to a banquet. Surely the field and oxen and marriage will still be there when the banquet is done. It seems that they just don’t think the banquet will be worthwhile – certainly not worth putting yourself out for!
Wait a minute, though – isn’t this actually about the kingdom of God? (see v15). Isn’t this about people invited by the God who created the universe to feast with him rejecting that invitation? How could they do that? How could they reject God himself for the sake of a little respectability or security? How could they be so complacent about the invitation as to have forgotten all about it until the master servant comes to remind them?
This is such a stark contrast to the response of many of Jesus’ disciples when he called them to follow him – not just to a meal, but for the rest of their lives. They literally walked away from their livelihoods to be with Jesus.
When it comes to heeding and responding to the invitation God extends to me, am I more concerned with polite respectability and covering up my shame than in acknowledging and accepting his forgiveness and nurturing the new life he gives me? What could possibly be more urgent than heeding God himself?
Head: What things am I using as excuses for not responding to God’s call on the whole of my life?
Heart: What emotions cause me to hesitate or become complacent towards God? How might a sense of the urgency and honour of his invitation bring about a change of heart for me in these things?
Hands: What can I do today to respond with my whole heart to God’s invitation to join his banquet?
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your amazing invitation to feast with you. Please forgive me for the ways I have acted with complacency towards you. Please work by your Spirit to change my heart that I might always respond with gratitude and delight to you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
A song to listen to: Only a Holy God
Ros Cree – Living Church Creek Road
