Who Invites You to their Party?

Who invites you to their party?

^15  16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, “How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?” ¹⁷ When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Mark 2:16-17

Matthew was a tax collector that responded to the call to follow Jesus.  He was so excited about his new found friend that he threw a party.  He invited his friends, most of whom did not attend religious functions.  His friends saw lots of hypocrites in the church. They had a lot more fun in their own parties.

Matthew invited Jesus to hang out with his friends.  The religious leaders of the day were watching Jesus to catch him “doing something wrong.”  Would a truly spiritual person spend time with known sinners?  They started the smear campaign against him.  As religious hypocrites, they understood that it “takes one to know one.”  He hangs out with sinners.  Today we may say he is a friend of druggies, alcoholics, prostitutes, clubbers etc.  Somehow we know like the religious leaders that he would be “guilty by association”.

On one level, I have counseled my children and many youth to stay away from trouble.  The adage is very true that “Bad Company corrupts good morals”.  Many parents have understood that their children would have fared much better had their child not befriended those “troubled” kids.  So that brings us to the question, “Why was Jesus at the party”?

Thankfully, Jesus answered his own question.  He was not looking for friends.  He was not just trying to fill his free time with fun activities.  He was not “hanging out” to show that he could fit in.  He was not running low on his social itinerary.  He had a correct view that these men and women were “sick”.  Not physically sick, but spiritually. They needed a physician.

Most likely they were not even aware of their need for a savior.  They were, however, very cognizant of not being as “good” as the church people. The religious leaders made sure to remind them of their “low” status in society.  But Jesus knew a secret about people.  Anyone can tell when you don’t accept them for who they are.  If you have a hidden agenda for being their friend, they can smell it quickly.  Jesus acceptance of a person is pure and genuine.  People can tell when you love them for “no reason”.  It gives you instant credibility.  Jesus could speak to the emptiness in their heart because they could tell that He cared.  Jesus never had to lower his standards in order to be friends with those who are lost.  He always called them to live a full and meaningful life that he offered.

You must use great wisdom in determining when and how often to spend time with spiritual needy people.  If they feel as if you perceive them as a project, you lose street cred.  If you approach them as if you are better and they are lower, you will be disappointed.  Don’t perceive them as a people that you do “ministry for”.  However, you don’t have to smoke, drink or do drugs with them to show that you identify with them.  Your testimony of true transformation by Jesus in your own life will communicate volumes to those who are in need of spiritual healing.  Jesus speaks through your changed life.  So here is the big question…Name your lost friends that invite you to their party?

Father, forgive us for removing ourselves from those who are so needy.  Jesus was known as a friend of sinners.  Teach us how to have good friends some of which are lost.  Show us any place in our lives in which we feel that we are “better” than the lost.  Thank you that you searched for us when we were lost and empty without you.