Blessed Are You When People Cannot Repay You

Same table from yesterday's post -- but now
filled with children from the community. 

Scripture:

Luke 14:12   He said also to the one who had invited him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. ¹³ But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. ¹⁴ And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Observation:

Jesus continues his teaching at the home of the Pharisee and now, he’s not just talking about the place at the table, but about people giving up their place altogether. Far too often parties were held and invitations given in hopes of receiving an invitation in return. This was a part of the social working of society, but Jesus wanted them to think about doing things from an entirely different perspective. What would happen if they threw a big party and didn’t invite any of those who might be able to reciprocate, but instead invited “the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind?” Jesus was accusing the leader of abusing reciprocity as a member of the privileged class. 

Verse 14 is another “beatitude” — “blessed” are you when people “cannot repay you!” What a thought! Temporal returns are of little value in the life of someone living with an eternal perspective. Earthly rewards mean nothing, but resurrection from the dead means everything. 

Application:

This passage makes me stop and think about the generosity of Christianity in regard to the world. Could it be that sometimes we “throw banquets” with the thought that we want to get something in return? Sometimes we may anticipate people becoming a part of our church in return. I’m not sure that Jesus would want that to be our motivation. (Although I know that Jesus would want us to follow the mandate to go and make disciples).

Jesus said we would be blessed when they could not repay. This means that God’s people are to be engaging in acts of mercy and generosity with no thought of receiving anything in return. We are to feed the poor, provide medical care for those who are ill, and help those who are suffering from disabilities. We do all of this simply because Jesus has asked us to do so.

Recently I was sitting alone in a surgical waiting room during a simple out-patient procedure my husband was having. During the season of COVID these waiting spaces can be quite lonely. The first day I was there a kind volunteer was spending time in this space, giving of himself to minister to those who were waiting. His presence was a comfort for all of us who had to wait alone. The man across the room from me got bad news from the surgeon about his mother. The volunteer was there, ready to comfort and guide him to the place where he would be able to visit with his mother. My husband’s procedure took longer than expected and it was this person who kindly and gently talked with me. 

I took this person’s presence for granted until we had to return six weeks later for a follow-up procedure. This day there was no volunteer. Evidently there aren’t enough people willing to volunteer to cover the schedule. The atmosphere in the room was very different that day. We all sat in our own socially distanced spaces, masks on, and did our own thing. There was no one in the room to provide peace, comfort, or direction. It was an entirely different experience. I missed the volunteer who was willing to give to an entire group of strangers, receiving nothing in return. 

Personally and collectively as the body of Christ we are challenged by these words of Jesus. It’s easy to give when we know that we will be receiving something in return. It’s not as easy when we get nothing — at least not now. In a world that craves immediate satisfaction we are to be a people who live into the long-view, and when we do, we will be blessed. 

Prayer:

Lord, help me to live with a generous spirit, giving when I receive nothing in return. Amen.