The Best Spot Is Waiting For You
Proverbs 23:6-8 NLT
Verses 6-8: Don’t eat with people who are stingy; don’t desire their delicacies. They are always thinking about how much it costs. “Eat and drink,” they say, but they don’t mean it. You will throw up what little you’ve eaten, and your compliments will be wasted.
I didn't understand these verses for the longest time. Then one day, I was in the company of someone that actually spoke these words exactly! The Lord had me in a position, to actually hear and see them BEFORE their guests arrived, and then because I helped clean up, I heard and saw the AFTER everyone was gone. I guess, I'm a "safe person", because I really got an ear full! I remember trying to reason, and try to get them to see it from BOTH sides, but just like these verses say, my compliments were wasted!
Too bad, that SO many people are concerned with what "others" will say or do - so they put on a false front. All to become someone that they really should not be. It is actually hard to be with someone that is inwardly stingy, and outwardly generous. Unfortunately, most of us don't have a clue, that someone is thinking and or saying the things they do, when we are not around.
What to do? Well, follow the example that Jesus tells us in Luke 14:7-11 about being invited to someone's home for a meal. Instead of eating everything they have, and trying to sit at the place of honor.... be humble, step back, eat light, and enjoy the company of those around you. IF the Host or Hostess wants you to be in a different place, then THEY will seek you out, and bring you to that place of honor. There is NOTHING more embarrassing than to be asked to move or even leave an area, and sit somewhere else, to allow a different person to be where you were!! OUCH!!!
MEF (minds eye flash) just happened! In God's kingdom, there are NO 2nd fiddles! No one more honored than another! No better place to sit at the table! Yes, I think that everyone gets their chance, as needed, to sit upon God's lap, and next to Him as needed.
I see a BIG reception. One that is very uplifting and inviting, to/for everyone! The decorations are more beautiful than I've ever seen! Not just fresh and clean, but brilliant and glowing! There are seats all over the place. It is almost like every-other seat, is a seat of honor! Every seat IS next to the Host, and EVERYONE gets His complete and full attention, ALL the time! There are no fights to get there first, no pushing and NO-ONE left out, or left behind! Even though the people all look different on the outside, they are treated completely equal, valuable, desired, honored - for who they are, on the inside! As I approach the room, and the tables, there is a special place just for me! However, just as I go to sit down, I look over, and see a different location that I would rather be in - and you know what?!?! My name is over there now! Like, it has been arranged just for me! I am wanted, welcomed, and invited to this spot. Once there, the feeling of importance, honor, respect, joy and total peace floods over me - it is almost too much to keep all to myself! So, it starts to spread out of me towards others. Pretty soon, I am inviting others to their "special spot" and everyone is SO thankful to be there! It is like we are all family, no one is a stranger, yet - family doesn't even quite fit the description of the feeling deep inside as we are with each other! Then, the banquet starts. Like magic, instantly, the very best of anything we have EVER had is right in front of us! Perfectly prepared and served, as if we are royal. Yet, not in a stuffy way, instead in the most natural way possible. It is incredible to see everything all at once, as if it's a movie, and the camera moves from side to side, panning the whole space, each and every person individually - yet, all individual and all at once. The light that is shining on, in and through each of us, is nearly blinding yet peaceful and calming. Unity is the best word I can think of to describe it. Even though we are all different parts, we are all together making the whole. It is incredible, the pure majesty of it all!
This is what I feel time with Jesus will be like. We will be with Him at His banquet table one day - and it will be more spectacular than we could EVER imagine!!
So, if you are ever invited to a dinner or an event, and you wonder what to do or where to sit.... go to the last place you would think the Host or Hostess will be. THEN, you can actually enjoy yourself with those around you, and not worry about being asked to "move over" for someone who is deemed more important. I pray, that you will not be in fear or even intimidated in these type of situations, but instead look for the good and fun it them! One day, all of the people and their ways of treating you, here on earth, will be remembered no more. And it won't matter! Because the Lord Jesus will have a special spot waiting just for YOU!! I ask, that you praise God now, and thank Him for any blessing He has poured out on you today, or this week. Having a thankful and grateful heart really does spill out on to other areas of our life! KNOW that you are loved, and He is watching over you each and every day! Be well and be safe - Jesus loves you, and so do I! <3
Verses 6-8: Don’t eat with people who are stingy; don’t desire their delicacies. They are always thinking about how much it costs. “Eat and drink,” they say, but they don’t mean it. You will throw up what little you’ve eaten, and your compliments will be wasted.
I didn't understand these verses for the longest time. Then one day, I was in the company of someone that actually spoke these words exactly! The Lord had me in a position, to actually hear and see them BEFORE their guests arrived, and then because I helped clean up, I heard and saw the AFTER everyone was gone. I guess, I'm a "safe person", because I really got an ear full! I remember trying to reason, and try to get them to see it from BOTH sides, but just like these verses say, my compliments were wasted!
Too bad, that SO many people are concerned with what "others" will say or do - so they put on a false front. All to become someone that they really should not be. It is actually hard to be with someone that is inwardly stingy, and outwardly generous. Unfortunately, most of us don't have a clue, that someone is thinking and or saying the things they do, when we are not around.
What to do? Well, follow the example that Jesus tells us in Luke 14:7-11 about being invited to someone's home for a meal. Instead of eating everything they have, and trying to sit at the place of honor.... be humble, step back, eat light, and enjoy the company of those around you. IF the Host or Hostess wants you to be in a different place, then THEY will seek you out, and bring you to that place of honor. There is NOTHING more embarrassing than to be asked to move or even leave an area, and sit somewhere else, to allow a different person to be where you were!! OUCH!!!
MEF (minds eye flash) just happened! In God's kingdom, there are NO 2nd fiddles! No one more honored than another! No better place to sit at the table! Yes, I think that everyone gets their chance, as needed, to sit upon God's lap, and next to Him as needed.
I see a BIG reception. One that is very uplifting and inviting, to/for everyone! The decorations are more beautiful than I've ever seen! Not just fresh and clean, but brilliant and glowing! There are seats all over the place. It is almost like every-other seat, is a seat of honor! Every seat IS next to the Host, and EVERYONE gets His complete and full attention, ALL the time! There are no fights to get there first, no pushing and NO-ONE left out, or left behind! Even though the people all look different on the outside, they are treated completely equal, valuable, desired, honored - for who they are, on the inside! As I approach the room, and the tables, there is a special place just for me! However, just as I go to sit down, I look over, and see a different location that I would rather be in - and you know what?!?! My name is over there now! Like, it has been arranged just for me! I am wanted, welcomed, and invited to this spot. Once there, the feeling of importance, honor, respect, joy and total peace floods over me - it is almost too much to keep all to myself! So, it starts to spread out of me towards others. Pretty soon, I am inviting others to their "special spot" and everyone is SO thankful to be there! It is like we are all family, no one is a stranger, yet - family doesn't even quite fit the description of the feeling deep inside as we are with each other! Then, the banquet starts. Like magic, instantly, the very best of anything we have EVER had is right in front of us! Perfectly prepared and served, as if we are royal. Yet, not in a stuffy way, instead in the most natural way possible. It is incredible to see everything all at once, as if it's a movie, and the camera moves from side to side, panning the whole space, each and every person individually - yet, all individual and all at once. The light that is shining on, in and through each of us, is nearly blinding yet peaceful and calming. Unity is the best word I can think of to describe it. Even though we are all different parts, we are all together making the whole. It is incredible, the pure majesty of it all!
This is what I feel time with Jesus will be like. We will be with Him at His banquet table one day - and it will be more spectacular than we could EVER imagine!!
So, if you are ever invited to a dinner or an event, and you wonder what to do or where to sit.... go to the last place you would think the Host or Hostess will be. THEN, you can actually enjoy yourself with those around you, and not worry about being asked to "move over" for someone who is deemed more important. I pray, that you will not be in fear or even intimidated in these type of situations, but instead look for the good and fun it them! One day, all of the people and their ways of treating you, here on earth, will be remembered no more. And it won't matter! Because the Lord Jesus will have a special spot waiting just for YOU!! I ask, that you praise God now, and thank Him for any blessing He has poured out on you today, or this week. Having a thankful and grateful heart really does spill out on to other areas of our life! KNOW that you are loved, and He is watching over you each and every day! Be well and be safe - Jesus loves you, and so do I! <3
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