For many years, marketing uses this slogan to help sell their products, but I can attest that most of the time, this isn’t the truth. I can remember a scene from the movie “Elf” where Buddy first arrives in New York City and comes across this place with the sign out front “World’s Best Coffee”. He proceeds to run in and congratulate them on a job well done. He later brings his girlfriend to this place where you can tell by the look on her face that this truly isn’t the world’s best coffee. How many of us can say we have the world’s best of whatever it might be? In Luke 14, we read of Jesus telling a parable and in this story, we’ll see three people apparently having the world’s greatest of what they have … so much that, it is apparently greater than the kingdom of Heaven.
The World’s Best Land
In Luke 14:15-18, it reads, “And when one of them that sat at meal with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servants at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.” What would you consider the greatest property to own? Relators will always tell you — location, location, location because it really matters. I think most of us would say that the world’s best place to live would be Texas because that’s God’s country after all, but let’s for a moment base it on value. I looked up the top 10 most expensive places to buy property and it amazed me. At #10 was Shanghai. You can buy 46.2 square meters for $1 million dollars! From there it goes all the way to Monaco where $1 million dollars will buy you a whole 15 square meters of space! What a deal right?! I don’t believe the land in this parable could be compared to something like this or as grand of a place. It was probably some land that would be used for farming. In Mark 8:36, Jesus says, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” This man thought property and land was worth more than Heaven, but we know from 2 Peter 3:12 that all will be burned up and dissolved on the day the Lord comes back. The Earth is not worth your soul.
The World’s Best Oxen
Going back to our reading and picking up in Luke 14:19, it reads, “And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.” Many of you are into the cattle business — selling and raising them. Most people use them as a retirement because there is money in it. Miles McKee, a Hereford bull from Idaho, sold for $600,000, but that doesn’t come close to the most expensive cow that was ever sold — $1.2 million dollars back in 2009! Now that better be the world’s best steak! Now, I highly doubt that the oxen in this parable were nearly this expensive or fancy; they were meant to be work cattle after all, but apparently to this man, they were greater than the kingdom of Heaven. I know we all need to work and the Bible does command that we do work (2 Thessalonians 3:10) and there is nothing wrong with being wealthy — some of the greatest men and women in the Bible were very well off (Joseph, David, Esther, etc.), but we cannot let money be our primary focus while we are here. In 1 Timothy 6:10, Paul writes, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” Money will not get you into Heaven. It is only by loving Christ and following all of His commandments can we make it.
How Does “Love Is Love” Compare to “The World’s Best” in Terms of Celebrating Diversity?
“Love Is Love” champions the celebration of diverse relationships, advocating for the acceptance of all identities and orientations. In contrast, “The World’s Best” emphasizes a broader spectrum of excellence, showcasing varied talents and backgrounds. Together, they reflect the essence of embracing love in all its forms, promoting unity through diversity.
The World’s Best Wife
Finally, Luke 14:20 says, “And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.” I know all of you out there will say that you have the world’s best wife … or at least I hope you will. To you, she should be and likewise, you should be the world’s greatest husband to her, but should the love that you have for your spouse come between you and God? We know we will stand before the judgment seat of God ALONE (2 Corinthians 5:10). We also know that we should love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Luke 10:27), and we should present our bodies as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1). Our spouse should help build us up and help each other to get to Heaven, but I know there are those out there who are married to non-Christians. You need to do your best to be the world’s best example for them in hope that they will obey the gospel truth (1 Peter 3:1-7).
In all three of these excuses that were given, look how the master responded in Luke 14:24, “For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.” These men who gave excuses truly missed it all. What excuse will we try and use to God on that day? What excuse do we use now to not do His will? Whatever it might be, it must be the world’s greatest, but you know what they say…if you miss Heaven, you’ve missed it all. Don’t miss out. Obey the commandments that He has given us today and you will receive far better than anything the world may offer.
Joseph Lachausse