A Parable of Lost Opportunity

 

     Luke 14:15-24 is a parable known as the "Parable of the Great Supper." The parable of the Great Supper is a parable of lost opportunity. Jesus had just taught His disciples to take the lowly place, to be humble and to serve the humble and lowly. One who sat with him said, "Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God." (Luke 14:15)

 

      In the parable of the great supper we see an opportunity extended. "Then He said to him, A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, Come, for all things are now ready." (Luke 14:16-17) What an opportunity! Many have been invited. It is suppertime and the Lord says to you, "...come, for all things are now ready."  Jesus said, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)  The opportunity is extended.  Through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus all things have been made ready. (I Corinthians 15:1-4) What are you doing with the opportunities God extends to you?

 

      In the parable of the great supper we see an opportunity rejected. "But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.  And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused. Still another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come." (Luke 14:18-20) These are not the only ones that have rejected opportunities. When you knew a family in need or hurting what did you do with that opportunity?  What did you do with that opportunity to teach in Bible school?  What did you do with that opportunity to visit at a funeral home or at­tend a funeral to support a hurting family? What did you do with that opportunity to share the gospel of Christ with others? What of your opportunities to pray, study the Bible, to attend the services of the church or to shine as a light for Jesus? Nothing is worse than rejected opportunity.

 

      In the parable of the great supper we see an opportunity lost. "So that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind. And the servant said, Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room. Then the master said to the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper." (Luke 14:21-24) Opportunities last only a brief moment. The supper is ready. Now is the time to eat. The opportunity will pass quickly. "For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper." (Luke 14:24) Once gone, those opportunities are lost forever. There is coming a great Judgment Day when all will give account for the use of their opportunities. "So then each of us shall give account of himself to God." (Romans 14:12)

 

            The parable of the Great Supper gives us a look at an opportunity extended, an opportunity rejected and an opportunity lost. What are you doing with the opportunities in your life? To become a Christian hear the gospel (Romans 10:17), believe (John 8:24), repent (Luke 13:3), confess (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized, (Galatians 3:26-27) As a Christian enjoy God's forgiveness and use every opportunity to God's glory.

 

By Charles Box, Walnut Street Church of Christ, P.O. Box 551, Greenville, Alabama USA

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