Jesus was telling a story about how blessed it is to feed the poor. He said, “When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbors; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made… But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind… and thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee… for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.” (Luke 14:13-14)

I used to know a missionary in Haiti who loved having big parties, especially on New Year’s Eve. I never wanted to go, but one year she invited Bobby and me. When we went there, we were the most miserable people in the world. There was no one “like us,” and everyone was rich, dressed nicely, and spoke French. I remembered thinking, “We are poor missionaries. I wish she would have invited some poor people… someone on our level. We are out of place here.”

To be called of God to the poor is the highest calling there is. To feed the hungry, who cannot recompense you, is the greatest blessing you can ever have. Let’s always remember the poor, no matter where we are, and let’s always treat the poor as if they were rich.

Sherry