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"And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples,
'Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?'"
(Matthew 9:11)
Our focus today is on the importance of eating with our neighbors, engaging with them, and getting to know them. Eating with others is a stretch for introverted people; extroverts, on the other hand, are a dinner party waiting to happen. I read a book with a catchy title a few years ago that was helpful to me and stretched me. The book is Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time, by Keith Ferrazzi.
There is indeed something special about having a meal with someone, even someone you do not know very well. One benefit among many is you are giving yourself and the other person some extended time unhurried so you can have a meaningful conversation. Families that eat together know how valuable of a time this is... so long as you all agree to put the cell phones and other electronic devices away!
It was in Matthew's house where Jesus met with many tax collectors and sinners. He shared a meal with them, and in this context, demonstrated to us how we are to treat those far from God. The tax collectors and others knew they were far from God and were drawn to Jesus. The Pharisees were also far from God but rejected Jesus because they saw themselves as righteous, apart from this peasant teacher from Nazareth challenging them.
It is so cool to me that Jesus hung out with people and shared meals with them. Jesus loved people, and He knew a solid way to have a meaningful dialogue with another person was to eat with them. N.T. Wright said, "When Jesus Himself wanted to explain to His disciples what His forthcoming death was all about, He didn't give them a theory; He gave them a meal." (Ferguson, BLESS, p. 84)
Take note again of where Jesus and the others are meeting: in Matthew's house. The context is a relaxed, casual fellowship over a meal. Matthew was a new Christian, and he invited Jesus to his house. He also invited his buddies, people like him who needed the Savior. Note that Jesus accepted the invitation from Matthew, and He went to where the sinners were.
What if you and I took a page out of Jesus' playbook on how to reach people? I think if we slowed down, hung out with others, and shared a meal with them, we would be amazed at how powerful this time would be. |
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