INTRODUCTION

The meal table is one of the social centers of the home or even in feast. Some of our warmest memories, and many of them will be associated with meal-time. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter, usually include a festive meal,. In Israel, the meal table played a very important role, not only in the family, but in society as well. When an Israelite provided a meal for a guest, even a stranger, it assured him not only of the hosts hospitality, but of his protection. SUMMARY Luke 14:7-14 Jesus noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table. So He told them a story. He said, Suppose someone invites you to a wedding feast. Do not take the place of honor. A person more important than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come to you. He will say, Give this person your seat. Then you will be filled with shame. You will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place. Then your host will come over to you. He will say, Friend, move up to a better place. Then you will be honored in front of all the other guests. Anyone who lifts himself up will be brought down. And anyone who is brought down will be lifted up. Then Jesus said to his host, When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 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. INTERPRETATION When planning a banquet, the temptation is to invite those who are most likely to do us some good in return. Thus, one thinks first of inviting family members or rich friends, who will reciprocate in kind. We are tempted to give in order to get. Jesus taught that this practice should not only be revised, but reversed. In this world, men invite their friends and the rich, in order to gain from their reciprocal invitations and hospitality. In Gods economy, men are gracious to the helpless and to those who cannot pay them back, so that when the kingdom of God is established on the earth (at the resurrection of the righteous), God may reward them. If his host really cares about honor from God, he should invite the poor and powerless (the crippled, the lame, and the blind) who can never repay him in this life, Doing so assures us of Gods blessings in heaven.

CONCLUSION The attitudes which will merit reward in the resurrection are the Kingdom attitudes of humility and generosity. In Gods Kingdom, the way Up is down In Go d s Kin gd o m, Th e Way Up Is D o wn People naturally tend to seek recognition and esteem from others, but Jesus says that those who seek self-glorification will ultimately find themselves humbled, while those who put others first will be exalted. RECOMMENDAT ION Dont do anything only to get ahead. Dont do it because you are proud. Instead, be free of pride. Think of others as better than yourselves. - Philippians 2:3