“And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.” (Luke 14:19-20 KJV).
The Lord Jesus, continuing on His parable of the Great Banquet, highlights two excuses of those who were invited in these passages. These represent prioritizing worldly affairs over the Lord’s urgent spiritual invitation, resulting in their absence at the feast. One of the lame excuses is of his newly acquired five yoke of oxen that needed to be tested. Not of an urgent nature, this should have not kept this man from the banquet. Yet, it did, not solely because of the oxen, but due to a blinded and hardened heart. This excuse symbolizes prioritizing material wealth and worldly affairs over spiritual matters. Testing five yoke (ten oxen) implies a significant business investment that the man places above the invitation. It highlights that worldly possessions can become idols that hinder one's response to God.
The other excuse of just having been married, represents prioritizing lateral relationships with family over God’s invite for a vertical relationship with Him. While not inherently evil, these excuses are used as pretext to reject the invitation of God. It is an alert that earthly concerns can hinder humanity's total commitment to enter the kingdom of God.
These therefore remind us, that being children of God by faith in Christ Jesus, we are directed, as Scriptures say - “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 3:2-4 ESV).
And I say, AMEN!
Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries
When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.
Partners For Christ Ministries, INC.
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477
Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries
When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.
Partners For Christ Ministries, INC.
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477
Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.
1 comment:
Amen.
Praise God.
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