Tired Church Members | Page 3

trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself for battle?" [27]
Yes, if you can go into mixed society as the Lord went, then go. But otherwise, for your own enjoyment, a different model is set.
"Then Jesus, six days before the passover, came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; and Martha served; but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment." [28]
How exquisite the picture! how rare the intercourse, how precious the results! A few of the Lord's own people met together with the Lord himself; the one expensive thing mentioned being bought for him. It was only "a supper"; and there were sorrows before them, and sorrows behind, and only the spikenard was "very costly,"--that consecration to God which gives him all we have: but its fragrance filled the house. And not all Arabia was ever so perfumed.
And must Christians give no other feasts but such as that? some one may ask. There is another sort mentioned, nay even insisted upon; but if the first looks to you dull, the second will seem--impossible! You will find a full description of it in Luke xiv. 13. And so far as I know, this is the only sort of great entertainment that Christians are encouraged to give; ruling out in toto the tit-for-tat customs of modern society. "For they cannot recompense thee." But it also spares you the perplexing question of full returns, for these people have given you nothing. Only the Lord has given,--and now bids you keep open house for him in his absence. And do you see? the great Master of assemblies will count the invitations as given to himself, and will one day make a royal return for them all when he cometh in his kingdom. "They cannot recompense thee." [29] What!--never invite your friends unless they happen to be poor? O, yes indeed,--invite them, enjoy them, make much of them, precious things as friends are; yet spend the most on the portionless lives that are all around you. There are fancy fountains in the rich man's grounds, throwing up jets of water just to catch the sunlight: let your small rills of refreshment flow silently to places where the tide is out and the streams run dry.
"They cannot recompense thee; but thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just." [30]
And as soon as you make ready a blessing--not a compliment--in your hand, unfashionable dresses will not matter, untutored tongues will sound sweet; and your feast will be all glorified, for the Lord himself will be there.
"Go your way, eat the fat and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared." [31]
"The Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow," [32]--"the poor that are cast out" [33]--these were Israel's special charge under the law. But the gospel gives deeper work.
"When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee. 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." [34]
The Lord dates the note of payment far ahead, but indeed I think he is better than his word, and deals out much coin as we go along; it is such wonderful pleasure to fill an empty cup! This is "recreation," true and sweet; for of all the refreshments from one's own toil and sorrow, I think ministering to other people is about the best.
I have said nothing--is it needful to say aught?--of the Bible rules for behaviour at a feast. One is ready to imagine that Christians do only that which is "lovely, and of good report." Yet notice a few things.
"They love the uppermost rooms at feasts," [35] was spoken of the Pharisees; but to his disciples Christ said: "Whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant." [36]
"When thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room." [37]
Other things follow close and easily upon that.
"Be courteous."--
"Let your moderation be known unto all men."
"Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do it all to the glory of God."
And to people with hearts so set, that other vexed question of dress will be easy; for all will be "clothed with humility";[38] and the spotless garments will so far outshine