Last week, God allowed me to write the blog Just Keep doing good. I found it such a good reminder, I wanted to continue the topic and share some of my thinking on it. After writing the blog, I continued doing research on the topic and came across this scripture.

Luke 14:12-14  Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbours; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

I always feel so humbled every time I read this passage of scripture. It speaks to me and says, “Dane, lift your giving to another level. Do it as God would like it done!”. While in the previous blog I mentioned we would get a reward for giving, this reward can sometimes have a time lag and will only be received at the resurrection. Are you ok with giving to so many and not getting anything tangible back? Really…? Are you ok with giving from your hard-earned finances to strangers throughout your entire lifespan with nothing coming back to you on earth?

This is one thing that tells me I am in the right faith and service to the true and living God. His words seem so pure and holy to me, and no other religion compares. For instance, the true and living God says when someone slaps you on one cheek, you are to turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:38-40). If someone steals from you, don’t ask back for it (Luke 6:30). Leave it with them. When it’s time to forgive, make sure you are doing it 70 times 7 (Matthew 18:21-22). The world is opposite to every scripture listed in this blog. This is one of the things which resonates in my soul and tells me that Jehovah God is the true and living God, – the purity of his words . The words He outlines for us clearly indicate that He wants us to live in Love, because God is LOVE.

Now, getting back to the main scripture at hand (Luke 14:12-14). I have never heard of anyone inviting the lame, sick, and poor into their house for a banquet. Note, this is not going on the streets and handing someone a box/plate of food and walking away. This is inviting a complete stranger who can be smelly, raggedy, and dirty, to sit on our fine furniture, in our nicely kept homes, and provide them a feast, the best that you can offer. At times, God wants us up close and personal with those we are to help.

I know the above is a tall ask, but it is not me who is doing the asking, it is Jesus Christ Himself. Will you deny Jesus anything? Wow, now that is a blog topic right there! All I can say is this my friend, before I die, I would like the honour of fulfilling the instruction given by our Lord and invite strangers into my home for a lovely meal and not just on one occasion. Sometimes we just have to put away fear and launch out and do what God instructs. “What he instructs us in, He will be in”.

In life, we love to look for rewards in all aspects. When we give, we must get something in return. When we put out, someone must put back. This seems to be the way of the world, but remember, we are in the world but not of the world (John 17:14-16). I am not saying that it isn’t good to receive gratitude or even repayment for our acts of kindness and love. Genuinely, as believers, we must show gratitude and consideration to others who have helped us. But in terms of giving and doing good to others I say this, “Let’s learn to LOVE and not look back”.

I leave you with one of my favourite quotes:

When you give, never remember; when you get, never forget”

PS: Dane Miller was last seen looking at a menu in order to prepare a feast.

Your Brother in the Lord,

Dane Miller | Author

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