Let’s party

Listen to this daily worship
Luke 14: 7-14 (NIV)
7 When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: 8 “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9 If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. 11 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
12 Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
Do you enjoy a party, or do you endure a party? I’m pretty sociable, so I do look forward to get-togethers. However, I do find walking into a room of strangers and trying to make polite conversation quite daunting. Today’s reading is Jesus’ masterclass in party etiquette — with a twist. He notices guests jockeying for the best seats and basically says, “Don’t do that.” Instead, take the humble spot and let the host upgrade you. It’s the ancient version of “play it cool and let the VIP pass come to you.”
Then He flips the whole guest list: forget your rich friends and influential neighbours — invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. Translation: throw a party for people who can’t pay you back, and you’ll be repaid in heavenly rewards. What a wonderfully joyful party that could be.
So next time you're tempted to elbow your way to the head table, remember: in God’s Kingdom, the best seat might be the one next to someone who never gets invited.
Prayer:
Lord of the low places,
Teach us to choose the humble seat, not for show but for love.
Help us welcome those the world overlooks; the poor, the hurting, the forgotten — and to throw parties where grace is the guest of honor.
May we seek Your reward, not in applause, but in kindness. Amen.
Login to comment.