Choosing Good Friends

Being a Godly Friend

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 14

Parable of the Dinner

16 But He said to him, “A man was giving a big dinner, and he invited many;

17 and at the dinner hour he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come; for everything is ready now.’

18 “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first one said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of land and I need to go out and look at it; please consider me excused.’

19 “Another one said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please consider me excused.’

20 “Another one said, ‘I have married a wife, and for that reason I cannot come.’

21 “And the slave came back and reported this to his master. Then the head of the household became angry and said to his slave, ‘Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in here the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’

22 “And the slave said, ‘Master, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’

23 “And the master said to the slave, ‘Go out into the highways and along the hedges, and compel them to come in, so that my house may be filled.

24 ‘For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste of my dinner.’ ”

New Living Translation Chapter 14

Parable of the Great Feast

15 Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, “What a blessing it will be to attend a banquet in the Kingdom of God!”

16 Jesus replied with this story: “A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. 17 When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’ 18 But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’ 19 Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’ 20 Another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’

21 “The servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was furious and said, ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ 22 After the servant had done this, he reported, ‘There is still room for more.’ 23 So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full. 24 For none of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet.’ ”

The parable of the great feast is originally intending to illustrate how God presented Jesus to the jews. First to the jews, who rejected him, and then to the gentiles, who embraced him.

It might also be used to illustrate how God invites people into his kingdom, not by their status, but by their willingness of the heart.

As humans, we judge people by how they look. Have you ever been rejected because you were too short, or ugly, or maybe injured, or even seen people at school who were left out because they were hurt, or had different needs. Or even some people who are in groups because some say they are more pretty, or have nice clothes, or nice shoes.

God says whether they’re crippled, or they’re strong, that it doesn’t matter. The Lord observes the inside. You should too! Next time you see someone, try to see them the way God sees them.

God can be met in their homes

New Living Translation Chapter 16

7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

New Living Translation Chapter 24

47 It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ 48 You are witnesses of all these things.

49 “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”

New Living Translation Chapter 3

“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.

1.) God wants to spend time with you (invite you in, and can meet you at home or anywhere you are.) (More than just reading your bible, it’s talking to God because he’s your friend).

2.) What can get in the way of God? Not everything is bad. Life is full of work, family, and fun. But God wants to be a part of that too.

3.) God wants to invite everyone to spend time with him! Even the poor, and sinners. Who are people in our city like this? (Homeless people, kids at school who are by themselves.)

4.) Who are people you can invite “to the table?”

Another idea is to identify the three types of spiritual relationships. Those who build us up, those we build up, and those that tear us down.

1.) Loving people show’s them, God’s love, and shows God we love him.

2.) We always help others, even if we don’t have money, or we’re young. (Listening to others, praying for them, being a good friend, etc.)

3.) God’s waiting for your “YES” to do miracles.

New Living Translation Chapter 2

They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.