I’ve got great news. I believe the next 30 minutes will be life-changing for many of you. With what you’re going to learn from God’s Word, your life will never be the same, because you’ll follow even more fully what God has for you and look back and say it was on this day you heard from God and your life moved in a new direction.
But I also have bad news. Many of you will find excuses why you can’t apply God’s Word to your life. And that will also be life-changing.
If I asked, “What would you like to see changed in your life?” Most of you could give me two or three things. The problem isn’t seeing the need for change, it’s seeing the change come about. Because you see, as soon as I decide to embrace meaningful life-change, Satan gives me excuses to stay the same. Jesus told a story about this problem.
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In this parable, Jesus compares the call to follow Him to an invitation to a great banquet. Everything was ready and the invitation extended. But the invitation was greeted with excuses. And as a result, none of those invited benefited from the invitation. Let’s see what lessons this passage can teach us to help with the problem of excuse making.
1. Meaningful life-change is comes from God.
When I said each of us could come up with one or two things we’d like to change, the fact is, what things you say today, will be different tomorrow, because we really don’t know what changes are best and are influenced by our feelings, our friends, or advertising. All these sources of what should change in our lives are always fickle and fleeting. Which is why we must understand that meaningful life-change comes from God. He made us and has a plan for us; and His plan is the best.
“ ‘For I know the plans I have for you’ - this is the Lord’s declaration - ‘plans for your well-being, not for disaster,
to give you a future and a hope.’ ” - Jeremiah 29:11 (CSB)
This banquet invitation was something one should’ve been honored to receive. But because they didn’t appreciate it’s value, they easily made excuses. And notice what was used as excuses: a piece of land, a team of oxen, and a wife. Why were these seen as good reasons for turning down the invitation? Because the invitation wasn’t seen to be valuable and because, as the excuses reveal, they also thought that to accept the invitation meant they’d lose the other opportunity.
But accepting this invitation didn’t mean one couldn’t look at his land later (although I don’t know why he bought it without first seeing it); and it didn’t mean the other couldn’t try out his oxen another day; and it didn’t mean the other one couldn’t bring his wife! While God’s plan will mean setting some things aside, but it will also mean receiving so much more! It isn’t a choice between “either/or” but it is a “both/and.”
“God can do anything, you know - far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.” - Ephesians 3:20 (The Message)
Is there a person in your life with whom you would trust your very life, if necessary? A spouse, parent, sibling, friend? Think of that person. Now realize that God loves you infinitely more than that person with whom you would trust your life!
“Then trust the Lord completely, don’t even trust yourself. In everything you do, put God first and He will direct you and crown your efforts with success.” - Proverbs 3:5 (Living Bible)
God’s plan results in living a life of eternal significance, for it extends well beyond here and now; it extends on into eternity. So even if embracing God’s plan includes suffering and sacrifice for now, I know this isn’t all there is - there is now; but there is also then. God’s plan includes an eternity full of great adventure and fulfillment.
Paul describes God’s plan as “good, acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2). Paul is doing so from an eternal perspective. We can be helped to see the good, acceptable and perfect nature of God’s plan by faith, but we’ll definitely see it in the next, when faith becomes sight. What will be sad is when eternity comes, many who have been climbing the ladder of success in this life, will see their ladder was leaning against the wrong building, because they were following their own, faulty plan, rather than God’s good, acceptable and perfect plan. They thought their plan is better than God’s, so they found it easy to make excuses when it comes to the meaningful life-change God had in mind for them.
2. Meaningful life-change comes through a relationship with God.
A. A relationship that is personal.
Each person was given a personal invitation to the banquet. No doubt, each invitation had that person’s name on it. Likewise, God’s interest in each of us in personal. He cares about us individually.
A relationship with God is one that begins with my making a personal decision to accept the salvation provided through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. No one else can accept God’s invitation for me. Just as each person in this parable had to make a personal choice, every person has to make a personal choice about accepting Jesus as Savior. You can’t get by on the faith of your parents or grandparents. A real relationship with God is a personal experience that comes about as a result of a personal choice. There is no such thing as hand me down Christianity.
B. A relationship that is growing.
While the invitation represents that a relationship with God is personal; and the banquet portrays a growing and intimate relationship with God, which is experienced through trusting in Christ as our Savior. Jesus used this portrayal in Revelation 3:20:
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” - Revelation 3:20 (NIV)
Our life in eternity is also portrayed by a meal (The Marriage Supper of the Lamb) (Revelation 19:6-9). Sharing a meal with someone is one of the most personal and intimate activities we can share with them. Which is why God uses sharing a meal to portray our salvation.
A personal relationship with God is where meaningful life-change begins; and a growing, intimate relationship with God is how meaning life-change continues. And the reason why a personal and growing relationship with God is essential to experiencing meaningful life-change is because God is the One who made you; and He made you with a purpose in mind.
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” - Proverbs 9:10 (NIV)
Notice that it is the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. How do I get to know someone better?
I love my wife. And I can honestly say I love her more after 42 years of marriage than when we first met, because I have spent so much time with her. The better I know her, the more I love her. When we first met, we couldn’t get enough of each other. And the more we were together, the more we fell in love. But also, I came to know her better and love her even more, when I met her family. I learned a lot about her by spending time with her family.
It’s the same way when it comes to knowing God better. I come to know Him better by spending time with Him and with His family. How do I spend time with God? Through prayer and being in the Word. How do I spend time with His family? By getting involved in my church. A banquet is something you attend with other people who have also accepted the invitation. Likewise, growing in my knowledge of God is something I do with others who also know Him personally.
Walking with God in a growing personal love relationship brings about meaningful like-change because you cannot walk with God and stay where you are. Quit making excuses and start following Jesus.
3. Meaningful life change comes by the power of God.
I love what the master of the banquet says, “Come, for everything is now ready.” God has provided everything necessary for bringing meaningful life-change to you and me.
“He gives us everything we need for life and for holy living. He gives it through His great power.” - 2 Peter 1:3a (New Life)
The women who sought to anoint the dead body of Jesus are to commended for their tender love and regard for the Savior. Yet, as they came near the place of burial, the practical difficulty of moving the heavy stone that sealed His tomb brought them unnecessary anxiety. Their fears were groundless; the stone had already been moved.
“But when they looked, they saw that the stone had already been rolled away. And it was a huge stone!” - Mark 16:4 (CEV)
“I pray that you will know how great His power is for those who have put their trust in Him. It is the same power that raised Christ from the dead.” - Ephesians 1: 19-20a (New Life)
It doesn’t matter how big your stone is! The same power that raised Jesus from the dead will go to work on your behalf to move that stone!
Conclusion: Stop making excuses about letting God bring meaningful life-change to us! Because God’s plan for my life is the best; because experiencing God’s best is simple, it comes about through a personal, growing love relationship with God, through trusting Christ and spending time in His Word, in prayer and with His family; and because God’s power will move the stones that stand in my way! Let’s quit making excuses and let God to make the changes He wants to make in us. What change does God want to bring to your life?
