<p>Jesus is the one who settles accounts. God is quicker at calculating than we are. It’s not based on the same standards as ours, but it’s just that we don’t realize it—He calculates quickly. When we lack the fruit of faith, we cannot escape judgment by being lazy servants. If we bear fruit, He will commend us and lead us to a good place.</p><p> </p><p>So, when we invite someone, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind.  They have something in common; once they receive help from someone, they cannot repay it. They might be unable to repay because they don’t have the money, or because they’re physically weak. Inviting these people involves spending money and effort to feed them. Yet, there’s nothing that comes back to us in return. That’s why Jesus tells us to invite such people—because God will repay us.</p><p> </p><p>We might wonder, "How can we live without calculating everything?" but that is the kingdom of God. Today, let’s live by the calculations that Jesus teaches us. When we help someone, and that person cannot return the favor, that is true help.</p><p>Living by faith is understanding God's way of accounting. Let’s be people who do not expect anything in return from those weaker or poorer than us, but simply find joy in giving what we can.</p><p> </p><p><i>Excerpt from the sermon by Pastor Lee, Oct 9, 2024.</i></p><p><i>Luke 14:12-14</i></p>
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