At the beginning of my Race I started to fall in love with giving my stuff away. Whether it be a shirt I brought on the Race, a piece of jewelry, money, outdoor gear, my time, or a smile, I have enjoyed learning how to give freely. It truly has became a contagious exciting joy and now lifelong dream to live a generous life. Thus, as the Lord taught me more about that dream, He then began to teach me more about being a good steward of what I have. And last month during a worship service God gave me a vision of a table…
The table was large and wooden with a huge feast placed on it. It was covered with the most delectable desserts and foods I had ever seen each cooked perfectly. The aroma filled the room with marinated meats, stir fried vegetables, and fresh fruit. There were scrumptious cookies, cakes, and treats dragging me closer to the table. All I could see was endless food on all sides.
Walking around, I longed to have a taste and began to plot how I could steal a bit off the table without being seen. It never occurred to me that the meal could possible be for me. Suddenly, I bumped into a chair and heard the Lord invite me to sit. He went on to tell me that the meal had been prepared and set out for me. He explained how He had waited a long while for me to see my seat at His table.
I began to eat and everything tasted just as good as it looked. The meats melted in my mouth, the vegetables burst with flavor, the cakes needed no milk to chase it down, and the fruit was perfectly ripe. As I ate the food never ran out; it was as if it just kept replacing itself on the table. Suddenly, the food started to metaphorically represent all the gifts God has given me through Christ and the Holy Spirit. Gifts like hope, joy, love, peace, self control, patience, faith, wisdom, knowledge, beauty, goodness, redemption, gentleness, and freedom.
Perplexed and overwhelmed I asked the Lord what I was suppose to do with all of these ‘gifts’, for I couldn’t consume all of them. There was too much and I felt the fear of the food, or ‘gifts”, spoiling. Quickly, God then took me to an empty field.
He turned to me and said, “Work, for I have given you what you need to grow another harvest.”
He showed me how to use the leftovers on the table to plant several crops. He provided the rain and sunshine and sat with me days on end as I plowed the land, weeded, pruned the plants, and waited for the harvest. My plants grew tall and strong and the food that represented love, goodness, kindness, and joy took over my field. In fact, there was so much love and joy plants they almost choked other plants out.
After months went by the ‘gifts’ were ready to be harvested and I brought everything back to the empty table for another delectable feast. I sat and started to eat when other people began to show up at my table. Some people sat to be fed finding their own chair at God’s table, while other people ate around the table or sat on the floor. Some even came to look like I did, but didn’t ever run into their chair and walked away hungry.
Hundreds suddenly were all sitting around the table and discovering God had given them a field too to go work in, and in a short time they too were bringing their harvest to the table. Every time someone went out and worked in the field, more people could be fed, more people discovered their seat at the table, and more people went out to plant their own crop. The table grew and grew becoming a heavenly gathering…becoming a church.
In this vision, the Lord showed me my place in the kingdom. He opened my eyes to the abundant, everlasting gifts I have been given, how to use them, and how to share them. He revealed to me how many other people come to the table hungry and in need of food, belonging, and identity. He let me see how cultivating the gifts He has given all of us is hard work, but it becomes easy as we rely on Him for the big things. He showed me the impact on the church when God’s children sit at His table, learn how to be a good steward of what He has given them, and share it with other people. The more we give away the more people realize what they have been given. The more we cultivate our gifts and talents to bear fruit the more we help others be inspired and discover their purpose and calling. The table is a place to discover, grow, gather, and share.
People change when they find a seat at the table with good company and taste good food; Kingdom changes when we shared our abundance with all who gather and sit at the table.
In Ephesians 2, Paul tells us of the inheritance we received. In Galatians 5, he tells us the giftings of the Holy Spirit. In Romans 8, he tells us of the inseparable love of God. In John 3 and 5, we are told of Jesus, who was given for us and set us free.
These verses call us to action. They call us to work wisely for the Lord due to the blood and love of Christ , who set us free. He gifted us with an inheritance and the Holy Spirit. God has called us to labor on His behalf and make wise investments with those gifts. Furthermore, when we look at Jesus in Romans 8: 34, it describes Him pleading and advocating on our behalf. He, even in Heaven, is not reclining back being fan and fed grapes. Jesus is on His knees interceding and advocating for us. We are meant to actively do things on this Earth for the Kingdom and we have been equipped to do so. We have a purpose on this Earth and can live generously for the glory of God.
Overall, based on these biblical truths, the vision God gave me, and my dream to live a generous life I see ‘the table’ as imperative.
Every bit of growth and abundance starts with obedience and stewardship towards God. We all need knowledge of Him and who He is to see who we are, what we have been given, and what we have been made for.
Church, there is an urgency to gather at the table all ready to be fed, work, invite, and share. Let’s not miss our seat at the table. Let’s not be poor stewards with the abundance God has given us. Let’s not be lazy or fail to trust God’s provision while working in the field . Let’s not keep all our harvest for ourself. Let’s not steal or fatten ourselves from other people’s harvest. Let’s each all do our individual part to meet around the table inviting people in, calling people higher, and enjoying God’s perfect goodness.
People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.
Luke 13:29
