Not The Wise And Not The Mighty

October 18

The context of this passage shows a great feast that a wealthy man put on. The invitations went out but then the excuses came in. One after another gave a reason why they could not make it to the feast. Then the man was furious and sent his servant out:

"Then the master of the house, being angry,
said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets
and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor
and the maimed and the lame and the blind.’"
Luke 14:21

The invitation is to all, but those who have no need will not come. They are satisfied with their wealth, their position, their fame, their possessions, their pleasures. They, being untroubled, don't even give the Kingdom of God a second thought. How poor are the wealthy!

So who does come in? The poor, the maimed, the lame and the blind. And that's us - those who have been afflicted. In our affliction we were drawn to the Lord and he has received us. Of such is the Kingdom of God.

"For you see your calling, brethren,
that not many wise according to the flesh,
not many mighty, not many noble,
are called. But God has chosen the foolish things
of the world to put to shame the wise,
and God has chosen the weak things of the world
to put to shame the things which are mighty;"
1 Corinthians 1:26-27

If you are poor, afflicted, heavy laden, do not envy the rich who seem to have everything. It’s all very temporary, and it's all going to change. Don't envy them. It's the only happiness they're ever going to know.

“So the last will be first, and the first last.
for many are called, but few chosen.”
Matthew 20:16