Originally published in The Global Voice: Volume 13, Issue 7, August 2015. You can read the whole edition here.
He also said to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just. Luke 14:12-14
We are truly blessed. It’s quite overwhelming at times. There is so much life! I look out my window and see new projects creating space for people to find education, or rest; kids playing games and enjoying each others’ company; teenagers learning skills in the garden; moms watching their little ones run on the field; educators teaching wisdom that leads to health. It’s amazing. It’s a party. A banquet!
According to Jesus, a banquet should have certain folks on the guest list. He notes the poor, handicapped (crippled), uneducated and unemployed (blind)—all of whom are incapable of paying for the expenditures related to hosting them. These people should receive both an invitation and hospitality in the venue of blessing that God has given us.
Our efforts to improve our facilities are done within this context. Jesus intimates that people who are poor, handicapped or unemployed miss out on the party of life due to their challenges, and their inability to afford the rest, leisure, and community that the wealthy, healthy and connected routinely enjoy. Jesus even says that by ensuring these folks get on your guest list, you are ensuring blessing. He states that the blessing one receives for obedience would be unrelated to the gathering ever becoming an income generating one — a lesson many “non-profits” and ministries need to learn.
It seems like such an odd investment; to put your time and resources into creating a place of refuge and nourishment for people who cannot reimburse you for the services. Jesus’ advice to the man responsible for the invite list in this text is also his wisdom for us who are in a position to share the blessings we’ve been given.
We’re doing it here. I pray you are doing it where you are. It’s not hard. You just have to believe Jesus’ way is right. After all, “you will be blessed.”
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