Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Gospel Lesson just read, from Luke 14. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- In our text we see Jesus in a setting that we may not usually think of Him as being part of – he was attending a dinner party, and a dinner party at the home of one of the leading citizens, “a ruler of the Pharisees.” I’m not sure how formal the occasion was, or what the social protocol of the time might have been, but it is interesting to think of Jesus in this kind of social event.
- However, our text makes clear that Jesus was not “off duty.” He healed the man who was diseased and He also used the occasion to teach. And our text makes clear that Jesus was constantly being watched, scrutinized, and tested by these social and religious elites. Jesus had always to be aware of the effect of His words and actions.
- On this occasion Jesus taught a great deal about having “A CHRISTIAN HEART” – how we are to think about things, our own place in “the social order,” and our own generosity in doing good to others. In His Words we can learn a great deal about love and how to order our priorities in life – if we are willing to have “A CHRISTIAN HEART.” First, it is clear that:
I. When We Are Invited To Attend Some Occasion We Should Generally Go
Text: “Jesus went to dine at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees.”
Text: “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, [go, but . . . ] do not sit down in a place of honor.”
Statement: Today we weigh invitations quite carefully – and even when invited many people opt not to attend. Now we may think that we are too busy – and sometimes we do have conflicts and simply cannot attend; however, there are many times today when we simply choose not to attend BECAUSE WE DON’T REALLY CARE ENOUGH!
Application: So let us consider this, that “A CHRISTIAN HEART” cares enough about other people, loves others enough to go out of our way to attend the things they have invited us to, even when we may feel inconvenienced by “having to attend.” Let us each weigh this in our own heart and consider carefully what is in our heart.
The same principle applies to church activities – especially to Worship, and secondly when it comes to the formal study of Jesus’ Word, the Bible. He invites us to attend each time His Word is being presented, contemplated, and studied! Yes, He invites you to come and join Him each Sunday. And it is no different with other churchly activities – especially our meetings, but also our informal gatherings. These are not just an “obligation” to be shucked and deflected, but an “invitation” to be with Christ, with His people, and LOVE in “A CHRISTIAN HEART” compels us to attend – love for Jesus, and love for His people.
Transition: But often we are “too busy,” or our personal feelings and preferences are too big and important for us to even consider attending! What we are really saying is that others really don’t matter enough, that God doesn’t matter enough, that others and God are not important enough. And so we would do well to consider that:
II. A Christian Heart Is Filled With Genuine Humility
A. So That We Are Willing To Take The Lowest Place, Thinking Of Ourselves As Principally The Servants Of All Others
Text: “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor . . . but when invited, go and sit in the lowest place.”
B. In Fact, A Christian Heart Always Considers Others To Be Better, More Important Than We Are, And Worthy Of Our Love And Caring
Phil. 2:3 “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”
C. And So A Christian Heart Is Not Upset If We Are Not Invited Higher And Honored – We Will Be Repaid At The Resurrection
Text: “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Statement: The person who has no cognizance of God, who has no concept of love, must always be looking out for himself and seeking his own glory and prerogatives – putting himself forward in “a place of honor.” The person with “A CHRISTIAN HEART” thinks always of others, “counting others more significant than” himself. So he naturally takes the lowest place so that others may be honored – and he does so in deference to God, in respect for Christ, knowing that in love God has already honored him. Yes, we know how Christ humbled Himself at the cross FOR US – to honor us with forgiveness, cleansing, and eternal life in heaven!
Application: So again, we must consider what kind of heart we have within ourselves – whether we have “A CHRISTIAN HEART” that is humble and self-effacing, eager to serve the good and needs of others! Our sinful nature – and we must see it and identify it as such – is constantly directing our concerns to our own “place, status, privilege, honor, and prerogative,” to our own selfish and egotistical concerns. Jesus urges just the opposite – and acted out His own wisdom and advice in laying down His life for our sins on the cross. Surely, in deference to His great love for us, we are moved to hear and heed His counsel in having “A CHRISTIAN HEART.”
Transition: And it is the same when considering what we will do with our “possessions” and “wealth.” For many people the only reason we work and have wealth is to please ourselves, fulfill our pleasures, and we “share” or “give” to others only if it increases our “prestige” and “honor” among others. Jesus also addresses this:
III. A Christian Heart Gives Out Of Genuine Love And Generosity
A. Never Giving With Calculation Of Gaining Something In Return
Text: “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.”
B. Rather, The Giving And Generosity Of A Christian Heart Is Solely Out Of Love And Compassion For Others, Those In Need – And Is Intended To Give Away Our Assets, Not Retain Or Improve Them – Knowing That All Balances Will Be Repaid In Heaven
Text: “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. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”
Statement: “A CHRISTIAN HEART” is able to focus on one thing – love and compassion for the poor and needy – because it knows and believes the love of God and His promises of goodness and blessing for this life and the next! This frees us to think beyond what is seen, beyond balance sheets and bank statements, and to look into the heart of God’s love – and to then act accordingly, complicit with God’s love. Our sinful nature – and it needs to be identified as such – looks only at present possessions and how they are going to serve me! And our sinful nature thinks only about others serving me, or at least serving as much as I do – they should do their fair share!
Application: Thankfully, God’s gracious mercy and forgiveness also covers all of these our sins of selfishness, unbelief, and lack of love. But thankfully, God’s great love for us in Christ Jesus is at work within us – creating and nurturing “A CHRISTIAN HEART” within us. Obviously, this is what Jesus encourages and insists upon for each one of us! And it is what He enables and produces in us as we honestly and sincerely repent of our selfishness and prideful sin, and cling to Him for grace, mercy, and forgiveness!
Conclusion: So let us consider what Jesus teaches in regard to “A CHRISTIAN HEART.” Let us be attentive to and accepting of invitations – especially of His invitations and those of His people, humbly honored to be invited and eager to honor them with our attendance. Let us be humble in all things – always counting others as being more significant and important than ourselves. And let us be giving generously to others – especially those in genuine need, fully aware that we will be blessed and repaid in the end, so that we are living lives of faith and trust in God’s promises!
Jesus attended when He was invited – whether to the homes of sinners or Pharisees, whether invited by the rich or the poor. Jesus humbly considered us of more value than Himself, laying down His life for our sins, that we might be restored to fellowship with God and eternal life. Obviously, this was quite a generous gift – one that we cannot repay.
Jesus’ life was just as ours is – full of socializing and relationships. He encourages the same embrace of life in its fullness for us – but with “A CHRISTIAN HEART.” May He grant such blessedness to each of us – for a blessed life in this world and the next! Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.