What Holds Your Heart?

A woman on our mailing list wrote this distressing note: “My husband was once on fire for God. For years, he gave himself faithfully to the Lord’s work, but today he is all wrapped up in a new pursuit. He no longer has any time for the Lord. I worry for him because he has grown so cold.” 

Jesus told a parable about this very type of pursuit. A wealthy man sent his servant to invite all his friends to a great feast he was holding. However, Scripture says the man’s friends “all with one accord began to make excuses” (Luke 14:18, NKJV). 

One friend told the servant, “I just bought a piece of land, and I have to inspect it. Please tell your master I won’t be able to come.” The next friend said, “I just bought a yoke of oxen, and I haven’t had time to test them. Tell your master I can’t come because I have to go into the field to plow with them.” Another friend told the servant, “I just got married, and I am about to take my honeymoon. I don’t have time to come to the feast.” 

This man had invited all his friends to enjoy an intimate time of fellowship with him. The table had been set, and everything had been prepared, but no one came. Everyone was simply too busy or preoccupied. 

Each person had a legitimate reason for not coming. After all, they were not avoiding their friend so that they could go partying or barhopping. On the contrary, the Bible commends everything these people were doing. Buying and selling can provide security for one’s family, and testing a major purchase is a sound business practice. Finally, marriage is a blessing that Scripture encourages. 

Yet, how did this wealthy man react? Scripture says, “Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper’” (Luke 14: 23-24).

The very clear point Jesus makes in this parable is that each of these good, legitimate things becomes sinful when they take priority over the Lord. Beloved, what holds your heart right now? Take a moment to reflect. Does your soul yearn for Jesus or for the things of this world?