NO TIME FOR GOD

LUKE 14:16-21 NKJ 
16 Then He said to him, "A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, 17 and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, 'Come, for all things are now ready.' 18 But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.' 19 And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.' 20 Still another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.' 21 So that servant came and reported these things to his master. 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.' 

OBSERVATION:

Jesus is giving us a picture of how God's kingdom operates. 

God's kingdom does not use force. It's an invitation only kingdom.   

In this parable, the kingdom is likened to a man giving a supper and inviting many. But people began to make excuses as to why they could not come. 

The excuses seem to revolve around three areas. Possessions, money-making, and relationships. 

One bought some land and had to go see it. I'm sure that piece of land would have been there the day after the supper, but it was his excuse. 

One bought five yoke of oxen. This was serious farm equipment in the days before tractors and combines. Of course, they could have been tested at another time. It was his excuse. 

Another married a wife. He did not mention anything else. But in that culture, the wife did not call the shots, so again this was an excuse.   

The master of the house was not okay with all the excuses. But he was not going to beg. Instead, the poor, crippled, and blind were invited. Chances are these people were not going to be too busy. 

APPLICATION: 

How we view God's Kingdom is important. If we consider it an honor to receive salvation and be welcomed to God's table, then chances are we will not be too busy for God.   

If we consider God's invitation to be of minor importance, it will become easy to get caught up with all the stuff in this life. Possessions, money-making, and relationships can easily become top priority, and we'll find ourselves too busy for God.   

Jesus continues this theme of priorities in the rest of this chapter. He doesn't desire to be the only priority in our lives. He just wants to be the top priority.  

PRAYER: 

Dear Lord, show me how to make You my top priority. I believe that as I make this adjustment, You enhance all the other areas of my life.