"Then, in the hearing of all the people, He said to His disciples, ‘Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation'” (Luke 20:45-47).

"Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. And He said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called "benefactors." But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves'" (Luke 22:24-27).

Which example do we set?

After some years of not attending church, my first Feast back, I sat in the back and was very surprised to find the person sitting next to me was a minister. My previous years had seen all the ministry sitting together in reserved seats, socializing with each other, and if you wanted to greet them you had to go seek them out at their reserved seats. They might or might not acknowledge your presence.

This minister went out of his way to seek me out and introduce me to his family. This made me feel very welcome and a part of the entire congregation. When he found out my mother had started attending when I was a child, he asked me why I did not stand when they asked how many had been around for many years. I said because I had left and come back. He then brought tears to my eyes when he said all those years had counted too because God never left me.

When we have meals at church, who goes out of their way to sit and talk to the ones they consider the important ones, and who makes sure those who might be looked on as the least in the congregation feel welcome also? Who does the serving and clean up afterwards?

Unfortunately, I know of some who left our fellowship because of perceived favoritism. We must make sure what we do for one, we also do for the others.

The welcome that I felt at my first Feast back because of that one example has been a part of the impetus that kept me coming back. Often the ministry will make the point of saying we are all called to the same calling of being the espoused bride of Christ.

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28).

"I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind" (Philippians 3:14-16).

We must be praying for the wisdom to treat all equally and with respect as family because we are now the children of the Almighty God.