Then Jesus said to the man who had invited him: When you give a dinner or a banquet, don’t invite your friends and family and relatives and rich neighbors. If you do, they will invite you in return, and you will be paid back. When you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. They cannot pay you back. But God will bless you and reward you when his people rise from death.
(Luke 14:12-14 CEV)
Many people expect something in return for their service. This is what Jesus noticed at the house of the prominent Pharisee. He seems to have invited friends, brothers, relatives and rich neighbours who were capable of inviting him back. So Jesus encouraged the Pharisee to invite those who couldn’t invite him back–the poor, crippled, lame and blind–reminding him that even though they couldn’t repay him, God could. Only someone who doesn’t expect something in return from others can continue to serve them gladly. They realize that God will repay them greatly and that’s enough to keep them going.
God’s recompense motivates us to serve others gladly.
Rising with the Son 