Community: A Great Banquet

In Luke 14:12-24, Jesus is invited to a dinner, and then ends up telling the story about a man who threw a banquet, but the guests refused to come.  While the primary meaning of this was likely directed to the Jewish religious leaders, I find it interesting that the Bible quite often speaks of God's everlasting kingdom as a banquet, or a great feast.  Plus, we also often find Jesus eating with people.

This picture of God's kingdom seems to paint a picture that we will be in everlasting celebration, joining with one another at the great feast, as we inherit God's gift of eternal life.  That means that we will be in community with one another, and with God completely and fully.  There will be no eating by oneself, or any lack of fellowship with others.  Instead, all of God's people will be rejoicing and eating together in His kingdom.

Food and community just seem to go together.  Getting together with someone for lunch, or over coffee, is still a great way to connect with each other.  As we think about ways to build up God's community in our local churches, perhaps we should look for more ways that involve food. 

What would we think of the person who had a huge banquet, but ended up at it all by himself?  We'd feel compassion and sorrow for such a person.  So as we think about how to increase the community which we spend with our fellow faith people, perhaps we should look for more ways to simply include a little food.  Fewer meetings, and more food and fellowship.  Sounds like a good recipe to me!