How far should we go in our Christian hospitality? As so often happened Jesus made His point by telling a story. In Luke 14 we read the story of the Great Banquet. ‘A certain man’ had prepared a banquet and had invited all the usual guests. It seems that without exception every one of them made an excuse. They sounded reasonable but the host was still angry (verse 21)
The servants were instructed to spread the net wider and go out into the streets and alleys and invite the poor, crippled, blind and lame. But it seems there were still empty places. So the servants were again sent out into the roads and country lanes. The banquet room was now full.
This parable was also meant for us. Like the servants we need to go where our Master sends us. Guided by the Holy Spirit we need to share the Good News with everyone, not just the respectable. Our visitors will leave crumbs on the carpet, scuff the paintwork and slurp their tea. In church they will not know how to behave, talk through the prayers or pop out to the toilet (or a smoke) during the sermon. But what joy there will be in heaven and our lives when they learn to love the Lord! They will still drop crumbs on the carpet. It doesn’t matter.