Christian Living

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Like those invited in Jesus’ parable of the banquet, (Luke 14:16-24) many Christians are too busy today for God’s feast. Too busy making dollars, building a nest egg, occupied with things outside the kingdom of God.

“Teach the Sunday School? Oh, I’ll be at work, it’s expected of me, you see.”

“Wednesday night Bible Study? Sorry, I have to take the kids to Little League baseball.”

Our time is spent where our heart is. As a bulldozer moves snow, doing the unimportant pushes aside our time for God, How foolish to get onto that path.

In some churches only three or four turn up for a prayer meeting. Those absent will have reasons—often silly ones. Let’s have a closer look at that parable of the feast invitations: Luke 14:16-25.

Those excuse-makers were pursuing the things of this world. The first “bought a piece of land.” He had to go and see it right away. He was obsessed with a material thing. The second “bought five yoke of oxen and had to prove them.” The feast didn’t matter. Again an unhealthy dwelling on things. So it can be with us.

The third excuse-maker had “married a wife” and so couldn’t attend. Many men today “marry a wife.” She too can be idolised, yet many a husband has come home to find a “Dear John, goodbye” letter on the table. Yes, even Christians.

In verse 24 Jesus says: “None of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.” Sobering thought isn’t it? We have to forget ourselves and put God’s work first!

Probably the most relevant Bible verses for the no-time-for-God, let’s-get-rich western world are in Matthew 6:19-20:

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures here on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

That brand-new shiny car in the driveway will rust, wear out and finally rest in the wreckers yard. The impressive new home will eventually be an old home. That expensive fur coat can soon be a scrumptious dinner for moths.

Shouldn’t we examine ourselves and say: “Am I storing up treasures here on earth? Does treasure-seeking consume my time?”

Children can be treasures too—and get so much attention the parents have no time for serving God. The children we dote upon today can grow up and forget us when we are old. The Lord expects us to provide for them, look after them, but not to the extent of banishing Him from our lives.

We are on rental from God. Each day we wake is only by His grace. We can be gone in a moment like the unfortunate people at New York and Bali. Eternity is truly a breath away.

We have to get serious. Do the things that count— prayer, Bible study, seeking God’s purpose for us. When Jesus nudges, let’s not make excuses.

One Corinthians 3:11-15 says our work as Christians will be judged. It won’t affect our salvation, but will our efforts be as gold, silver and precious stones? Or will they be as wood, hay and stubble?

[I'm not in "Private Messenger" so I can't read and reply to your emails sent there. You can reach me at saul2_au at yahoo dot com (You know the correct email format—I wrote it that way to confuse the web ‘spiders.’)

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