“And the master said to the slave, ‘Go out into the roads and the hedges and press upon them to come in, so that my house will be filled.” Luke 14:23.
This verse is part of a story Jesus tells of a man who prepared a great feast and invited many people to attend. In this parable, a man plans a large banquet and sends out many invitations. When everything was ready, he sent his servant to contact each of the invited guests, telling them all was ready and the meal was about to start. One after another, those who were invited made excuses as to why they could not come. One had just bought a piece of land and said he had to go and look at it. Another had purchased several oxen and was on the way to yoke them up and test them. Another said he was newly married and therefore could not come. So the master sent his servant onto the highways and hedges to invite and compel people to come.
This is a very familiar story, but one of great importance for us as Christians to understand. The meaning of the invited guests who chose not to come is a picture of people whose priorities are out of order. Just as the guests missed the feast due to their excuses, many people today place earthly concerns over spiritual invitations. In this story the host represents God, who invites many to come to His banquet, which is a symbol of the Kingdom of Heaven. However, many He invites make excuses which represent a deep spiritual issue, which was placing this life here over their spiritual lives resulting in material possessions and responsibilities becoming most important. This then results in them missing a closer relationship with God. And because these chose not to come, he sent His servants out to the highways and hedges, places people normally would not go, and to people they normally did not fellowship with. Now, I ask the question. Are we willing to go anywhere the Lord sends us no matter where it is and who is there?
First, let us look at who the master was sending his servant to. It is important to understand these were unpopular people. These were the ones the Pharisees and Sadducees considered unclean, cursed, and of no value at all. To them, these were poor, disabled and uncouth people who nobody, especially the Jewish leadership, wanted to associate with and would no doubt never go into the areas where they lived because if anyone saw them there, they would be humiliated. They believed they were too good to associate with people like these. However, Jesus was telling His listeners that He was sent to reach these as well, and thus they were also to reach out to them. In essence, we should never just focus on those who can make us look good or can return the favor. Jesus worded it this way,
“Now He also went on to say to the one who had invited Him, ‘Whenever you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor wealthy neighbors, otherwise they may also invite you to a meal in return, and that will be your repayment. But whenever you give a banquet, invite people who are poor, who have disabilities, who are limping, and people who are blind; and you will be blessed since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.’” Luke 14:12-14.
Our reason to minister to everyone should be to honor Christ; to love the lost by helping them find salvation, and to bless our brothers and sisters with our love, help and encouragement. Our primary motivation must be love for God, our fellow Christians, and the lost. Not for our gain.
Therefore, I have two question for you to ponder.
If God calls you to go to the poorer parts of town to minister, would you go?
What if He desires to send you to a scary part of the city, would you trust Him to protect you?
If you are hesitant regarding these two questions, ask yourself why. I will be the first to say I have not always thought this way and had been hesitant at times. However, in the forty eight years since I became a Christian. God has helped me understand many things, and one of those is that no one is unworthy to hear the message of the gospel and accept Christ as savior. Everyone should be given the opportunity to hear the fact that God loves them and sent His Son to pay the penalty for their sins. If God gives us this opportunity to minister to people, we should do everything we can to make it happen. What a privilege it is to be used by the infinite, personal God who loves us all beyond understanding. If God calls us to go somewhere and meet someone, do you think He will not be there with us? In fact, the apostle Paul says He will not only be there, but He will work through us. He wrote the following,
“for it is God who is at work in you, both to desire and to work for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13.
No matter where He sends us, He will be right there with us. And whatever happens, He will be in control. But most important is what Paul wrote earlier in the chapter.
“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility consider one another as more important than yourselves; ” Philippians 2:3.
God wants us to live a life of humility and meekness. We must never see ourselves as greater than anyone else. We must never believe we are too good to minister to certain people who many see as unworthy of their time. We must understand everyone is worthy of our time in ministry. We must always be ready to sacrifice anything if God calls us to make that sacrifice. If we see someone who is hungry, be willing to provide them a meal. If someone is crying, take time to comfort them. If someone is lonely, take some time to be with them. We are to show every person, no matter who they are or what their situation is, that God loves them and He is using us to show His immense love to them. We must help them understand they are significant and not someone to be ignored. And before we leave them, we should make a point to share the gospel with them; allow God to lead us in how best to present this important message. And do not get pushy but share it with love, for this may be the only opportunity they will have to hear it. A good deed and a loving action can do much to open a heart to the love of Christ. And always remember, we are not to pick and choose who we will minister to. For wherever He leads us is where we need to go.
In closing, let us remember that God came to this world in the form of a man to spread the good news that it was possible, no matter who they were, to be reconciled with God. And it was through His sacrificial death on the cross that it came to pass. He gave up so much in order to spread this good news to all the people in this broken world. Moreover, He also discipled people to take over after He ascended to share this essential message to everyone in the world. And we, as the Church today, are called at this time to carry on His work. Let’s get out there and fulfill Christ’s last command He gave to His disciples just before His ascension.
“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’” Matthew 28:18-20.
Go out to where God calls you to be and spread the good news. This is the greatest calling God has given us to do.
This is an important word!