WHAT HOLDS Your HEART?

by David Wilkerson

What holds your heart right now? Does your soul yearn for Jesus, 
or for the things of this world?

A woman on our mailing list wrote this distressing note: "My 
husband was once on fire for God. For years he gave himself 
faithfully to the Lord's work but today he's all wrapped up in a 
new pursuit. He no longer has any time for the Lord. I worry for 
him, because he's grown so cold."

Jesus told a parable about this very kind of legitimate pursuit. A 
wealthy man sent his servant to invite all his friends to a great feast 
he was holding. But, Scripture says, the man's friends "all with 
one consent began to make excuse" (Luke 14:18).

One friend told the servant, "I just bought a piece of land, sight 
unseen, and I have to inspect it. Please tell your master I won't 
be able to come." The next friend told the servant, "I just bought 
a yoke of oxen and I haven't had time to test them. Tell your 
master I can't come, because I have to go into the field to plow 
with them." Yet another friend told the servant, "I just got married 
and I'm about to take my honeymoon. I don't have time to come 
to the feast."

This man had invited all his friends to enjoy an intimate time of 
fellowship with him. He had made all the arrangements for their 
comfort and convenience. The table had been set and everything 
had been prepared, but no one came. Everyone was simply too 
busy or preoccupied.

Each person had a good, legitimate reason for not coming. After 
all, they were not avoiding their friend so that they could go partying 
or bar-hopping. On the contrary, the Bible commends everything 
these people were doing: Buying and selling can provide security 
for one's family, and testing a major purchase is a sound business 
practice. Finally, marriage is a blessing that the Scriptures encourage.

Yet, how did this wealthy man react? Scripture says, "The lord 
said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and 
compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say 
unto you, that none of those men which were bidden shall taste 
of my supper" (verses 23-24).

Jesus makes a very clear point in this parable: Each of these 
good, legitimate things becomes sinful when it takes priority over 
the Lord. 

Source - http://www.worldchallenge.org/en/node/20781