REWARDS (1)                                                               Luke 14:1-14

And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.  (v13)

It happened one Sabbath. Jesus along with a distinguished list of guests, had been invited to dinner at the home of a prominent leader (v1) As the guests were finding their places,  Jesus watched them jockey for the best seats. Suddenly,  He offered some unsolicited advice. “Sit down in the lowest place… For who ever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (vv 10-11)  Everywhere, power players flinched. But Jesus wasn’t finished. He turned to the host and proceeded to instruct him on a better way to entertain guests. “When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbours, less they also invite you back , and you be repaid.” (v12) What an awkward moment. Jesus seemed to be saying to His host,” “Next time, don’t invite all these people you invited tonight.” He was questioning the man’s fast in friends or his grasp of social etiquette? Look closely at what Jesus said next: “When you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed.” (vv 13-14) Rather than criticizing His host for his generosity, Jesus was showing him how to get something important – something, more lasting than a wonderful evening – in exchange for it. Yes Jesus was right. Blessings do come when you do good deeds to those who cannot repay you (Bruce Wilkinson with David Kopp)

PRAYER LINE: Meditate on Proverbs 19:17 He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD. And He will pay back what he has given.

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God comforts us so that we can comfort others.