Moment With The Master
“Profiling for Christ”
Categories: Moment With The Master"Then He also said to him who invited Him, "When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid. "But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. "And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just." (Luke 14:12-14)
One Sunday morning, when I took my place in the pulpit, I noticed a guest sitting on the back pew. Our visitor, dressed rather poorly, was slouched in his seat, and had his shirt unbuttoned revealing much of his chest. I had pretty much sized up the young man deciding he was a typical “church bum”.
When the invitation song was led our guest came to the front and expressed the need to get his life right with God. While I was still skeptical of his motives, I accepted his confession. Less than a year later both his wife and 14 year old son were baptized. He and his family never had much of this world’s goods to offer, but what they did give was far greater than any material thing – it was hearts of gratitude.
The above passage is a rather probing one. The Lord demands that we examine the motives behind our generosity. Jesus cuts to the heart of religious profiling.
What is the motive behind your religious work? Some give out of a sense of duty, others to feel superior, and others because they cannot help it. It is the later that is the law of the kingdom of Christ. This is the only way to serve! This places us in character with God himself. (Mt. 5:45) If one gives to gain a reward, he will receive no reward; but if one gives with no thought of the reward, his reward is certain! Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
(Acts 20:35)
By George Slover
