The Cost Luke 14:12 Then Jesus said to the man who had invited him: When you give a dinner or a banquet, don’t invite your friends and family and relatives and rich neighbors. If you do, they will invite you in return, and you will be paid back. 13 When you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14 They cannot pay you back. But God will bless you and reward you when his people rise from death.

1. There is always a cost to helping people! Ask yourself “What is the cost?” 13 When you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14 They cannot pay you back. Serving others costs more than what you anticipate. Most families live on a fixed income Anticipate what will come in Tendency is to focus first on ourselves Pay the mortgage, the utilites, the groceries Give God and others what is left over A tip Naturally, we look to make the biggest impact with everything we own or have control of If I pay for internet, for a few dollars more I can have movies. That is cheaper than going to movies; We combine and stretch and work our finances to have the biggest impact So in our giving If I give to Springs Rescue I feel better; I don’t have to come in contact with homeless, I am not inconvenieced, I will just write a check and feel better but keep control of my life Jesus is here saying “Get involved” Put yourself in the presence of the lowest among you

1. There is always a cost to helping people! If we welcome people into the church; what will it cost us? Kids will be unruly Wear and tear on equipment People unfamiliar with church can be disruptive Our simple church-ease Conflict over differing expectations They don’t carry their weight financially

2. When you provide for others, don’t seek a response. When you give a dinner or a banquet, don’t invite your friends and family and relatives and rich neighbors. If you do, they will invite you in return, and you will be paid back. What do I get out of it? Give a present; the person who receives is beholden to return the favor with a gift Could be used to work ones way into the good graces of those in influence I am going to invite the senator to my home for a nice dinner; then, when he or she gives a dinner; maybe…

2. When you provide for others, don’t seek a thank you. Paid back- Repaid Appreciated Thanked Lifted up Acknowledged Give with no strings attached! What constitutes being “paid back?” We have a tendency to witness so others will do what we want them to It is a form of religious manipulation When you witness, tell others about Jesus, do so with a “kingdom mindset” They get involved in another church it is still OK This is hard for me I fight it all the time Serving people becomes manipulative as soon as you require something in return

Mt 6:1 When you do good deeds, don’t try to show off Mt 6:1 When you do good deeds, don’t try to show off. If you do, you won’t get a reward from your Father in heaven. 2 When you give to the poor, don’t blow a loud horn. That’s what show-offs do in the meeting places and on the street corners, because they are always looking for praise. I can assure you that they already have their reward. 3 When you give to the poor, don’t let anyone know about it.4 Then your gift will be given in secret. Your Father knows what is done in secret, and he will reward you. CEV 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. NIV

So What? Do you believe people are lost without Jesus? What happens to them? What “cost” is appropriate for bringing them to Jesus? What are you willing to give up? Why do you serve others?