Luke 14:13-14 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Reading this immediately brings to mind what Matthew recorded: “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’” (Matthew 25:40) If we approach life with the attitude of what’s in it for me, we will get very little out of it in the long run. However, if we approach life with the attitude of how can I serve, how can I be a blessing, then the rewards are enormous. Home environment and parental teaching are extremely important in generating right attitudes but some of it remains a mystery, because two children from the same family can turn out very differently. It boils down to the choices we make. We can choose to focus on “number one,” or we can choose to see those around us with eyes of compassion and thus be God’s instruments of blessing to them. However, we need to remember that indulgence isn’t love; often, the best thing we can do for someone is to teach them to do things for themselves. However, the specific illustration Jesus is using here isn’t that sort of thing. Let’s face it: a lot of social interaction is based on reciprocity. Jesus is saying, specifically and explicitly, not to live like that. We are to relate to people on the basis of what God has done for us and who He is in us, and not on the basis of what we can get from the other person.

I can honestly say this is how I try to live, but being honest, I also have to say that I’m certainly not 100% successful at it. I do need to spend time with people who recharge my batteries, so to speak, or I find I have nothing to give to those who are in need. That’s why my morning devotion times are so essential. If I didn’t hear from the Lord myself, I would have nothing to say. If I didn’t let Him fill me, I would be running on empty. It is a deep joy to be used by God in various situations, but it can also be very draining. I must never descend into “What’s in it for me?” but I must also remember that it is only by the grace of God that I have anything at all, for myself or for anyone else. He will supply all I need, for myself and for those to whom I minister, but I’ve got to keep my connection firm to Him, or it all falls apart.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the conferences I’ve been able to attend already this year. Thank You for the privilege of speaking Sunday by Sunday in this church, and for being Your agent to all sorts of people through each day. Thank You most especially for being able to come to You morning by morning and have You speak to and through me as I am quiet before You. Help me be Your agent in drawing more and more people into fellowship with You, to live for You and not for themselves, so that they may discover the incredible riches for which they were created, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!