Jesus Wants You to Find Your Purpose

We are moving along in our series on the book of Luke. Today we are in chapter 14. Jesus is making his way towards Jerusalem. He knows that it is getting closer to the time that He must fulfill the purpose that He has come to earth for.

Chapter 14 is a common scene that have been noticing throughout the book of Luke. Again on a Sabbath, Jesus is eating at the house of a prominent Pharisee. It seems they are trying to keep Him close to them. Kind of like the old saying, “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.” I believe that is what the Pharisees are trying to do. They are looking for a way to take Jesus out. They believe that He is an imposter. They don’t believe He is the real Messiah. Let’s begin at verse 1.

Luke 14:1–6 NIV

1 One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched. 2 There in front of him was a man suffering from abnormal swelling of his body. 3 Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” 4 But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him on his way. 5 Then he asked them, “If one of you has a child or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull it out?” 6 And they had nothing to say.

God has a purpose for each of us. If you are a business man, you were not called to be just a business man to make money. God has a higher calling for you. If you are a teacher, you are not just called to be a teacher so you can have summers off. You are called to be a teacher for a higher purpose. God is calling each of us for a higher purpose. What is your higher purpose? It is important for us to figure it out. As you are figuring it out one of the requirements is for you to care about people.

One thing you need to understand about the Pharisees is they were completely devoted to the exact observance of the Jewish religion. If the law said to do something a certain way, then they did it exactly. They would even possibly go overboard to make sure that it was done a certain way.

Jesus comes along and He would push their buttons. First of all, they didn’t believe that Jesus was the coming Messiah. They thought He was an imposter. Secondly, they didn’t like the fact that Jesus would perform miracles on the Sabbath.

Jesus never broke the commandments of God, but He often offended man’s traditions that surrounded and extended the commandments of God. The commandments of God are enough, and we should never make the traditions of man—even good traditions, equal to the commandments of God. Look at what Jesus said in Mark 7:8-9

Mark 7:8–9 NIV

8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” 9 And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!

Just because we do something that is a tradition doesn’t make it Godly. Church people get caught up in the traditions of doing certain things that they can become ungodly. That is what the Pharisees did. They let their traditions get in the way of doing the right thing.

Jesus taught them in this moment that doing the right thing is what mattered. Caring about people is the right thing. But the Pharisees didn’t want to admit that it was okay to heal a man. Jesus was showing them that we ought to care for people. Don’t let your traditions get in the way of fulfilling the purpose that God is calling you to.

Jesus is also quick to point out that if their child or ox fell in a well they would work on a Sabbath to get them out.

As you are trying to figure out what your purpose in life is, I can promise you that Jesus wants you to care for people. Everyone of us needs to figure out how to meet people’s needs.

Jesus also gave the Pharisee’s a lesson on humility. Look at verse 7.

Luke 14:7–14 NIV

7 When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: 8 “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9 If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. 11 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” 12 Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

During Jesus’ day, the seating arrangement at a dinner showed a definite order of prestige or honor. The most honored person sat in a particular seat, the next most honored person in another seat, and so on down the line.

Jesus uses a parable of a wedding feast to teach them a lesson in humility. Jesus wasn’t just picking on the Pharisees here, but if you remember in Luke 9 he talked to His disciples about this as well.

Luke 9:46–48 NIV

46 An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. 47 Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. 48 Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.”

Jesus wanted to teach them to humble themselves, even to the extent of being willing to serve the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. Jesus was encouraging the people to refocus their sights, from exalting themselves to exalting and serving others.

Jesus is calling us to do the same. We must humble ourselves before the Lord and seek to serve others. Part of finding your purpose is learning to come with humility to God. It’s not about our position, but it is about the way we conduct ourself in the position we hold.

As you move up in leadership, there are some rights that you lose in order to keep that position of leadership. God is wanting to take all of us to a higher place. He has something greater for you than you possibly have ever imagined for yourself. However, you have to learn to humble yourself in order to fulfill the purpose that He has for you.

That day Jesus also taught them that they need to learn to accept everyone. Jesus tells us when we do something, we shouldn’t expect something in return. When we extend invitations to our friends, neighbors and those that are well off, we will probably get invited to something they have going on. But, when you extend an invitation to someone that wouldn’t necessarily have the means to do the same. More than likely you won’t get an invite because they couldn’t afford to have a party in the first place. Jesus was teaching them to be inclusive with everyone.

When we can do good, without expecting reward or repayment, we will have truly served God unselfishly. Some day you will receive your reward in Heaven. When we learn how to include everyone, we are mirroring God’s generosity. God’s kingdom is offered to everyone. And no matter your status or power on this earth, there is no way that you could possibly repay what God has done for you.

The last thing Jesus teaches the Pharisee’s here at this dinner party is your purpose requires you to not make excuses. This parable is one that most of you have heard. It begins at verse 15.

Luke 14:15–24 NIV

15 When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.” 16 Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ 19 “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ 20 “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’ 21 “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ 22 “ ‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’ 23 “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. 24 I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’ ”

In Jesus’ example, there were two invitations that were sent out. The first invitation was to let the people know about the banquet that was going to happen. They had plenty of time to make preparations. This would be something like the save the date cards people send out now for a wedding or party.

The second invitation was sent telling the people that the feast was now ready. This meant that originally these people had accepted the invitation. They had RSVP to the event. They had made their reservation, but when the time for the feast had come each of them began to make excuses for why they couldn’t come to the banquet.

And each of their excuses were lame. The first one said, “I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.”

Who buys land without seeing what you are buying. Yes, it is possible but highly unusual because the actual inspection would normally have been before it was bought, not afterward. At the very least, this material concern is more important than the obligation to attend the banquet. This excuse was very lame because at best they could have put off the inspection for at least one day.

The second excuse is again a financial purchase, this time it is “five yoke of oxen.” This guy had to have been a large landowner. The average farmer would own a couple of yokes at best. And again who would buy oxen without testing them out first. Most of us would never buy a new car without test driving it first.

The third excuse is more lame than the first two. He says, “I just got married, so I can’t come.” The crazy part about this excuse is that during Jesus time, marriage ceremonies lasted about a week. So, this would be known before the first invitation was accepted. It was common for such meals to be for men only, and the Torah allowed marriage to excuse a man from war. Everyone would assume that the reason was to procreate, and again this would be taken as an extremely flimsy excuse. In fact, men were not to speak of such things publicly, and this would be seen as the most brazen excuse yet. Men would scarcely talk about their wives, and to use them as an excuse like this was contemptible.

All three excuses would have come across as a rude and deliberate attempt to insult their host. The host’s forthcoming reaction would have been understandable and appropriate. Jesus is clearly portraying the Jewish reaction to this gospel invitation, with similar studied rejections and insults coming from the leaders and the crowds.

During this time a feast would take weeks to prepare. They would have to kill an animal and it would be a specific animal according to how many would be there. So, for these people to not attend would be costly for the host. So, that is why the master would send out the servant to go out to the streets and alleys and invite anyone they find.

Look at how Jesus says it in verse 23.

Luke 14:23 NIV

23 “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.

Jesus uses the word compel to indicate God’s desire to fill His house, and because these wanderers and outcasts needed to be convinced that they were welcome, compelled by love.

We read in this parable that many people turned down the invitation to the banquet because the timing was inconvenient. God’s work is not always convenient.

There are people today that will resist and delay responding to God’s invitation. They begin to make excuses that may sound reasonable like work duties, family responsibilities, financial needs and so forth. However, God’s invitation is the most important event in life, no matter how inconveniently it may be timed.

God has a purpose for each of us and it is time to stop making excuses on why we will not follow His purpose for us.

Then in verse 25 until the end of the chapter we have a scene change. We are no longer in the Pharisee’s house. Jesus is traveling with a large crowd and He begins to share with them.

Luke 14:25–27 NIV

25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

Jesus uses what is known as a hyperbole to make the point about loving Him far above anything else.

Hyperbole - a clear exaggeration expressed for greater effect

Have anyone of you ever used an exaggerated point to get your point across? I hear them all the time. We say things like, it just blows my mind or we may say something like a jillion dollars to make it seem larger than it is. That is what Jesus is doing here to get His point across. Jesus doesn’t want you to hate your family. He just wants you to love Him far above anything else. And the word hate here means love less. Jesus demands that our loyalty to and love for Him be greater than every other affection and attachment in life, including our own families.

If you want to know the full purpose that God has for your life then you must love Jesus above anyone else. You must place Jesus first in your life. You will never find fulfillment in your life if you don’t put Jesus first. You will never find your purpose in this life here on earth if you don’t put Jesus first.

Luke 14:28–33 NIV

28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ 31 “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.

How many of you will go on a big vacation and not make any plans? If you don’t make any plans, you might not have a place to stay. If you don’t make any plans then everything might cost you more. If you don’t make any plans then you might not leave the house soon enough and you arrive late to your destination. All of us generally make plans and figure out what it will cost before we follow through with it.

There has never been a king in history that went to war and was successful without first making a plan. Our history books are full of stories of the kings and generals that were successful because they made a plan and stuck to it.

In order for us to understand the purpose that Jesus has for us, we must be willing to give up everything and follow Him. We must want what Jesus wants.

Then look how Jesus ends this conversation in verse 34.

Luke 14:34–35 NIV

34 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? 35 It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

I’ve told you this before, but I want to end with this.

Many minister’s think of this salt as salt like we have on the dinner table to season food but that is not what Jesus is talking about here.

The key word here to show what Jesus is telling us is the word earth. In Matthew, Jesus tells us, “You are the salt of the earth.” Matthew is written for the Jews. The jewish people would understand this metaphor because they would go and scrape up the salt from the dead sea and they would use it for 2 things.

The dead sea had a high potassium rate and not much sodium. It wasn’t made to be consumed but they would use it because it had a high potassium rate. Any gardener knows that a good fertilizer contains a good mix of 3 things: Phosphate, Nitrate, and potassium. So, the jewish people would place the salt from the dead sea in the ground to fertilize their soil.

The second thing that they would use it for is to put on human waste. They would go outside in the back area, they would have a hole in the ground, and they would empty their bowels and next to that hole was salt. They would then put salt on it and the salt would act as a disinfectant. That is why Jesus says here in Luke in our text, “It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile...”

Salt would be used for fertilizer or as a disinfectant on manure. Salt promotes the good things you want to grow and it prohibits the bad things that you don’t want.

That is why when Jesus tells us that you are the salt of the earth He is saying you are to stop bad things from growing and you are to promote good things that are wanted there. Not by saying or doing anything but by being totally different from the environment.

Think about table salt. Just a little will do in the kitchen to season food. But as a fertilizer or disinfectant you need a considerable amount to be effective. You need handfuls. That concept means we need more than just a few in society being Christian or being salt. We don’t have enough salt.

In society we need about 5% of us to be salt to start reversing social trends. Salt is no good in the box. It has to be in direct contact in the dirt to be of use. Salt operates by presence and not absence. As long as we are in a church service like this we can not be salt of the earth. Because we are out of contact with the dirt.

It takes 5% Salt all locked in direct physical contact. Think about a factory, if 5% of us are salt the talk changes.

If we all worked in christian environments where would the salt be making the change to the dirt of this world.

We need quality salt in direct physical contact. It must be salty. It cannot lose its saltiness.

How does it lose its saltiness?

It loses its saltiness by being adulterated with other substances. When they would gather the salt from the dead sea, they would gather the salt and the sand would get mixed in with it.

When the salt has other substances mixed in with it it loses its saltiness. That is why it is so important for christians to be different. When we allow the things of the world to get mixed in with the things of God we lose our saltiness.

Christians will influence the world if they are different from the world. I heard David Pawson, a British minister say this. I don’t know if he was the one who said it originally, but I heard him say it.

“The church, the lifeboat, should be in the sea. But when the sea gets into the lifeboat you are in trouble.” - David Pawson

It’s not that we don’t have enough salt but the salt we do have is losing its saltiness very rapidly. We are losing it by allowing society to creep in. Are we called to be credible or are we called to be different?

We should be leading society into a better way not following their way. Once you lose saltiness you can’t get it back again.

What is Saltiness?

Remember what the beatitudes said. Blessed are the poor in spirit. To be poor in spirit means to be despised by the world. To be completely dependent on God. The world wants to stand up for themselves. The beatitudes is completely opposite of what the world says.

If you are going to be salt then verse 11 of Matthew 5 is certain to happen.

Matthew 5:11 NIV

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

When you decide to be salt you really have to have faith to believe that your reward is in Heaven because you won’t have it in this world.

Your true purpose, the purpose that Jesus has for you is to be salt of the earth. Don’t lose your saltiness in order to please those of the world. Go and be the salt of the earth that Jesus has called you to be. That is the purpose that Jesus has for you, to be the salt of the earth.