Wanna come over for dinner?

Have you ever experienced someone go out of their way to build community with you by asking you to grab a cup of coffee or eat dinner with them?

Something awesome about being a Christian is that wherever we are in this world, we have a community we belong to. There are, of course, times when you are going to feel lonely, but these are often times when we have to seek out community for ourselves. And if we can’t seem to find that community anywhere, we have to seek out community with God.

But either way, finding that community is key to building fellowship and forming genuine relationships with other people.

There is a certain type of fellowship and relationship building called table fellowship.

As humans who are made in God’s image, we constantly crave relationships. We don’t like to be alone. And the only way we can prosper as humans is by having and building relationships. And sharing a meal together is one of the primary ways relationships are established and deepened.

In the New Testament, we often find Jesus relaxing at the table during His ministry. He’s engaging with people, talking to them, asking and answering questions. He is promoting genuine community.

In Luke 14:12-14, the Bible says,

“He said also to the man who had invited him, ‘When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

Jesus isn’t saying that you should never invite your friends to dinner, but it is wrong to only invite such people.

When was the last time you invited someone to eat who wasn’t a close friend or a part of your friend group? Are you bold enough to invite someone you don’t know very well out to share a meal? If not, I encourage you to check your heart!

It’s wrong to only associate with people whom you know you are comfortable with and are easy to get along with. You have to reach out to people you don’t know that well and you have to get to know them. Show them love, build the trust, and share what God has done for you. These are moments when you have to go outside your comfort zone and just be bold. 

But I also understand how easy it is for us to limit our friends to a few people we’re comfortable with and easy to get along with. I am guilty of this!

But how are we supposed to further the Kingdom of God if we only talk and eat with the same people every day? How are we supposed to do what we were put on earth to do if we never push ourselves out of our comfort zone?

You don’t need to get anything in return when you try to build community with new people. Have intentions of furthering the Kingdom and wanting to enjoy genuine fellowship and true community.

There is something so beautiful in giving a gift that can never be repaid like this. Acts 20:35 explains the pleasure of God in giving salvation and blessings to His people. And this is how it should be for us, too. Consider it a pleasure to receive nothing for your acts.

If lunch doesn’t go the way you had planned with that one coworker, that’s okay! You were bold to ask them to grab lunch and God is pleased with your actions.

You will be repaid when you get to Heaven. Live your life with that eternal perspective. We will never lose anything for pouring out ourselves because we do it for God and because He did it for us.

In this world, we share so much information over text and social media. But when we do this, we are missing out on that nonverbal communication. We miss out on seeing someone’s facial expressions, their eye contact with you, their tone of voice, etc.

But even when we are face to face sharing a meal, people are usually on their cell phones. Sharing a meal should be a prime opportunity for you and the other person to create space for honest conversation, encouragement, and maybe even a chance to pray together.

Let me say this again: friendships 100% deepen over a meal. Think about what you are doing when you have a meal with someone. You’re laughing, you’re reminiscing, you’re sharing stories, you’re having deep conversations. You are building community.

Can you think of a time when one of your friendships was deepened while sharing a meal? I can think of 35 times when this has happened to me. Like I said in my biography, trying new coffee shops and restaurants is one of my favorite hobbies and I love doing it with different people.

We live in a world that is so divided and isolated and one of the most appealing and distinctive qualities of the church is the community and fellowship. Like I said before, people crave it.

In the end and in eternity, Christians are going to be the ones who are talking face-to-face, so why not go ahead and do it now?

In 2 John 1:12, the Bible says,

“Though I have much to write you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy made be complete.”

Let this verse encourage you and give you hope.

One day, sharing a meal might even be considered an uncommon experience. Be a witness to people around you and show them what it’s going to be like in Heaven.

I encourage you to invite someone over for dinner/out to dinner/grab a cup of coffee. Start developing those meaningful relationships we were designed to indulge in and enjoy at the table.