Spiritual Credit Score

~~~ Philippians 2:1-4 ~~~ Psalm 131 ~~~ Luke 14:12-14 ~~~

When you hold a lunch or a dinner,

do not invite your friends or your brothers or sisters
or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors,
in case they may invite you back and you have repayment.

In this time of elections our politicians
would not want to hear this passage from
Paul's letter to the Philippians.

When you are raising money for a political campaign,
or any other campaign, it is precisely the wealthy you want to invite.

Jesus accepts an invitation to dine with an influential Pharisee.
Why this invitation? Jesus certainly had no monetary wealth to offer.
He does, however, offer words of wisdom to the host.

Rather, when you hold a banquet,
invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; 
blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you.

Usually if you borrow money it is required that you
repay it plus any accrued interest.
If you fail to repay then it ultimately affects your credit score.

Many give to the poor...to charities that serve the poor.
When you give to a charitable cause you do not expect anything in return.
These people cannot repay you for your generosity.
We get invitations to attend fund raising gala events.
At these events you give and receive something in return
 either a meal, service, or a product.

Our spiritual credit score may well be determined
 by the attitude with which we give.

What is important is that we give
 to the poor without expecting anything in return.

Jesus went about serving the needs of the poor.
His words were often...go and sin no more or simply repent.

Our spiritual credit score is determined by our heart...
by how much love we are willing to share...
by how many ways we are willing to forgive
 those who trespass against us.

Jesus fed thousands without expecting any form of payment.
Jesus healed as many as could reach him;
even those touching just the tassel of his cloak.

Our joy must come from being of the same mind as Jesus.

...humbly regard others 
as more important than yourselves...

If you want to improve your spiritual credit score...
...stilled and quieted
my soul...

still and quiet your soul

For you will be repaid at the resurrection...

Whatever we do for the least of those created by God
we do also unto him.
There is no need for book keeping in heaven.
There is no possible way we could repay Jesus
 for all that he has done for us.
Jesus is our best insurance plan...give him thanks.

Blessed as we give of our time, talent, and treasure for the Lord.
Our 'payment' is deferred until the day he raises
 us up to be with Him.

Let us be glad...
 In you, O Lord,
I have found my peace.

Let no one repossess your soul.

~~~Peace~~~