LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for Dec. 5: Meals can be times of eternal significance_112204

Posted: 11/19/04

LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for Dec. 5

Meals can be times of eternal significance

Luke 14:1, 7-15

By Pakon Chan

Chinese Baptist Church, Arlington

Baptists and Chinese are alike in that if we meet, we eat. Meals in the Bible and the Jewish tradition are used not only for social purposes or for satisfying physical needs, but also are expressions of fellowship between people, and and individual and God.

Meal fellowship

Inviting people to have a meal at your home is a good opportunity for building friendships and sharing the gospel. Our church always encourages Christians to invite people for a meal at their home in order to open a door for sharing the gospel and for encouraging people to go to church. This type of hospitality will cause a guest to feel respected and honored.

Many times, Jesus used meal fellowships to minister to people. The larger part of chapter 14 is about meals or meal fellowships. Jesus was invited to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee in the beginning of this chapter. But Luke tells us their invitation to Jesus was not out of love or respect. They watched Jesus very carefully during the meal to find fault so they could accuse him (14:1).

Jesus was watched all the time, and so are we (1 Corinthians 4:9). Some watch us to find fault, while others want to see Jesus in our lives. It is good if people see Christ in us and feel the love of God in a Christian home. Many international students are so impressed by such love and hospitality offered by Christians that their perceptions and misunderstandings of the Christian faith are changed.

Humility as a virtue

Humility in today's society is becoming obsolete. Boasting is a basic survival skill in the commercial world. Everybody wants to be treated as an important person. Schools and mass media teach people to focus on their own value in a very egotistical way. Individualism is the social norm and the typical American mentality. Aiming at an important seat is the goal for many people's entire lives. Recognition becomes one of the most important motivations besides money in work and ministry. How to teach Christian humility is one of the issues needed in a discipleship training course.

The Christian virtue, humility, is not just self-denial or lack of worth. Humility should come from a right attitude and healthy self-esteem. The right attitude toward praise and honor is to understand that they are gifts given by others. When we do things, we don't do it to receive praise and honor in return. If people praise us or give us honor, we should receive it with gratitude. If no one recognizes our work, we should still work diligently and happily.

God gives us talents and abilities to use to serve him and people, and they are not meant for boosting our ego and seeking honor. So, Jesus told the guests to pick the lowest place. If they were asked to move to a better place, then they were honored (v. 10). But if they were not asked to move, they should be happy with where they were seated.

Unselfish service

Jesus then turned to the host to remind him to serve with an unselfish motive. Luke told us there are two types of rewards– the reward given by man and the reward given by God.

Jesus did not say we should not be paid for our work in an ordinary sense. We work to earn our living and support our family. There is nothing wrong in working for pay. What Jesus wanted to say here is our service is rendered in fellowship. In Christian fellowship, we should give generously and unconditionally, for that will show our Christian love.

If we give because we want to be given to in return, it is not fellowship; it is business. Jesus obviously told us that we should intentionally avoid getting repaid in what we do in fellowship. What we give or serve in fellowship should be out of genuine love. We should not see people as a means to satisfy our selfish needs.

Instead, God will repay what we have done for him at the time of Christ's return. God is watching us, and he knows how hard we work for him and others to keep the fellowship. The Apostle Paul tells us: “You will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 4:24).

This passage also encourages us to have fellowship with people without discrimination. Jesus died for all people, and he redeemed us into fellowship with him and all Christians. It is very easy for people to invite others with the same social status and educational background for fellowship. That is always one of the major obstacles to hinder fellowship ministry in church.

Jesus urges us, if we give a banquet, “invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind and you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous” (v. 14).

Discussion questions

Can you give some practical ways to practice Christian humility in your daily life?

How can your fellowship include more people with different social status or cultural backgrounds?