A View From a Pew: You Can’t Eat at Everybody’s Table

A View From A Pew: You Can't Eat at Everybody's Table

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My mother used to say, “You can’t eat at everybody’s table.” As a child, I thought she was just talking about food. But life has taught me that she was feeding me a lesson far more nourishing than any meal.

See, every table isn’t set with your good in mind. Some tables look fine on the surface—covered with linen cloths, polished silver, and smiling faces—but what’s being served can be spoiled, toxic, or laced with hidden agendas. Every invitation isn’t an opportunity; some are a setup.

That’s why discernment is vital. Who you sit with, who you allow to whisper in your ear, and who you let feed your spirit can either build you up or break you down. Some people don’t serve food—they serve foolishness. They serve bitterness instead of blessings. They pass gossip like side dishes and serve envy as the main course. And if you’re not careful, you’ll find yourself malnourished in faith, poisoned in peace, and starving for purpose.

Remember this: just because you’re invited to the table doesn’t mean you belong there. Judas sat at the table with Jesus. He ate the bread, dipped in the same bowl, and smiled in the same circle—but his heart was not aligned with the mission. Not every hand extended in fellowship is a hand of friendship. Some are hands of betrayal.

And it’s not just about betrayal—it’s about loyalty. The old folks used to say, “Don’t eat with people you wouldn’t starve with.” In other words, if they can’t walk with you in the valley, don’t trust them to sit with you on the mountain. True friends don’t just show up when the feast is served; they stick around when the cupboard is bare.

You also have to protect your name. Every table has a reputation attached to it. When you sit there, you carry that reputation too. Associating with every crowd, aligning with every voice, and accepting every invitation can compromise your witness. Paul reminded us in 1 Corinthians 15:33, “Do not be deceived: Bad company corrupts good character.” Sometimes the holiest word you can use is “no.”

But here’s the shout: while you’re being careful about which tables you sit at, don’t forget that God has a table of His own. David declared in Psalm 23:5, “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.” That means I don’t have to beg for a seat at man’s table when the King has already set one for me. I don’t have to compromise my character for crumbs when my Father offers a feast.

So today I remind you—choose your company like you choose your meals. Don’t eat just because you’re hungry; eat because you’ve been invited to the right table, with the right people, serving the right food for your spirit. Protect your peace. Protect your purpose. Protect your plate.

Because the truth is simple and my mother was right: You can’t eat at everybody’s table.