Few Are Chosen

“For many are called, but few are chosen.” [Matthew 22.14]

This statement, and the parable it concludes, very much describes the spiritual environment in which we live today.

God began with Israel and continued until His invitation to 'banquet with Him' was extended to all mankind. As the invitation reached more and more people, the spiritual purity of the people decreased to the point that some in attendance at the banquet were not even wearing the proper and necessary banquet clothing. In addition to those who refused to come, those who came unprepared were rejected also.

The reasons the original guests refused to come are listed as follows:

But the guests he had invited ignored them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to his business. [Matthew 22.5]

Self-centeredness sums up this list of reasons the invited guests refused to come, not at all dissimilar to the reasons people do not follow God today. In fact, society as a whole (the Church sadly included) has only become increasingly more self-centered with each passing generation. So infected with the disease of self-centeredness has modern society become that the damning sickness is rarely, if ever, even diagnosed. 

This parable Jesus gave in Matthew 22.1-14 serves to confront society with the choice Jesus demanded of all who would follow Him: forsake ALL and follow Him. Jesus "pulled no punches" and offered no "lighter version" but demanded full surrender and total allegiance to Him.

Jesus never asked His followers to "make time for Him." Instead, He demanded their entire life. In contrast, modern believers struggle just to set aside time for one weekly meeting with other believers and feel quite comfortably justified that this fulfills their obligation to God. We call those who attend two or three hour-long meetings per week, "devoted followers."

Jesus called His disciples (as examples to all) to leave everything to follow Him. When we hear or read this, "Well, but..." is soon to follow...

"Well, but, I have a job..."

"Well, but, I have a business..."

Or, how about this one: "Well, but, I have other plans..."

"Well, but..." is simply our modern version of ignoring God's invitation to banquet with Him.

To be clear and sure, Jesus promised His true followers that they would lack for nothing - food, clothing, etc. but His promise carried the one huge contingency of "seeking God first and foremost."

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. [Matthew 6.33]

Then Peter began to speak up. “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” he said. “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life. [Mark 10.28-30]

Modern society's infatuation with self and all that entails, puts it outside the classification of the "few" who are chosen. How dangerously indistinguishable is the Church today from the world's condition?

Few today have set themselves apart in full surrender to God's Kingdom. Few today have forsaken all to follow Christ. Few today, consequently, are chosen.

There is not much more that can be said at this point.

“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. [Matthew 7.13-14]

Father, I can say, "I want to be chosen" all day long but that does not break my will and self-centeredness. I recognize that Your Word and Prayer have brought me to this realization and that Your Word and Prayer will strengthen me to carry through with the commitment to 'forsake all and follow You."