In Luke 5:17-19, we encounter a story that challenges us to reassess our priorities and values. It’s a narrative about four men who, driven by compassion and faith, carry their paralyzed friend to Jesus, overcoming physical obstacles and societal expectations in the process.

These men, recognizing their friend’s dire need, make the extraordinary decision to bring him to Jesus. This is not a simple task. The paralyzed man is entirely dependent on his friends for his basic needs, and the journey to Jesus is fraught with difficulties. Yet, undeterred by the challenges, the group persists in their mission.

There comes a point in the story where the crowd becomes an obstacle. The house where Jesus is teaching is so packed that there is no way to get their friend inside. Yet, instead of giving up, they come up with an unconventional solution – to lower their friend through the roof. Despite the potential risks and messiness, the group decides to do it. Their willingness to sacrifice for their friend is a testament to their passion and love.

But what about the crowd inside the house? They could have made room. They should have made room. Yet, they didn’t. Once they were inside the house, they forgot about those outside. Their experience and comfort took precedence over the needs of the paralyzed man. Their preference overshadowed their passion for helping others.

Mark Buchanan, a pastor writer, explains this phenomenon. He says, “We’re being the crowd when the experience of those inside the house is prioritized over the needs of those outside the house.” In other words, we become part of the problem when we prioritize our preferences and perspectives over the needs of those who need to get to Jesus.

Tom Reiner puts it even more bluntly. He says, “When the preferences of church members are greater than their passion for the Gospel, the church is dying.” A dying church is one where members are more passionate about their own preferences than about bringing lost people to Jesus.

When the preferences of church members are greater than their passion for the Gospel, the church is dying.

Tom Reiner

So what can we learn from this story? How can we, as those inside the house, always think of those outside who desperately need to meet Jesus? The answer lies in prioritizing passion over preference.

Prioritizing passion over preference

We should be willing to make sacrifices so that people outside the house can get inside. We should be willing to ‘wreck the roof’ if that’s what it takes to bring them to Jesus. After all, once they are in front of Jesus, He will take care of them. He knows what they need.

The story of the paralyzed man and his friends challenges us to prioritize passion over preference. It calls us to make room for others, to sacrifice our comfort for their benefit, and to do whatever it takes to bring them to Jesus. Because ultimately, it is not about us and our preferences. It’s about them and their need for Jesus.