HAUGHTY
MAN HUMBLED:
HUMBLE
MAN HONORED
LUKE
14:7-11
Luke
14:7 And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how
they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them.
Susan: This
follows immediately after the host and his guests were exasperated by Jesus’s
behavior because they did not agree with His breaking their man-made traditions
by healing on the Sabbath.
Susie: After
healing the man on the Sabbath and leaving the Pharisees in attendance at the
meal speechless, Jesus noticed something about the guests. They were each
trying to elbow their way to the best seats, the ones closest to the head of
the table.
Matthew
23:5-6 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their
phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, And love the uppermost
rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues
Susie: Jesus
gives them a bit of social etiquette advice.
Luke
14:8-9 When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the
highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; And he
that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou
begin with shame to take the lowest room.
Susie: Apparently,
wedding banquets did not have place cards showing the guests where to sit.
Therefore, Jesus tells them not to assume that they are one of the most honored
guests and sit down at the head table.
Susan: Someone
may come in who is of greater importance to the host or has a higher standing
in society. Then both they and their host would suffer embarrassment and
humiliation when the host has to tell them to move to the back of the room so
this VIP can have the best place.
Susie: Thinking
too highly of oneself is also advised against by the Apostles Peter and Paul.
1
Peter 5:5 Likewise, you who are less experienced, submit to leaders. Further,
all of you should clothe yourselves in humility toward one another, because
God
opposes the arrogant,
but
to the humble he gives grace.
Romans
12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among
you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly,
according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Philippians
2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind
let each esteem other better than themselves.
Susan: Any
talent, any importance we have is a gift from God, and we are stewards of it.
Therefore, we should not be prideful and think ourselves more deserving than
anyone else.
Luke
14:10 But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when
he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then
shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.
Susan: Choose
the worse seat in the house, the one of lesser importance. Then when the host
comes, he may decide to elevate where you are seated, singling you out for
honor.
Susie: Then,
instead of being embarrassed and humiliated, you will be admired by the other
guests for having been given such an honor. They may also respect your humility
in not thinking yourself to be better than them. A win-win situation.
Proverbs
25:6-7 Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the
place of great men:For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither;
than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine
eyes have seen.
Luke
14:11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth
himself shall be exalted.
Susie: If you pridefully sit in the high place,
you might be knocked down; but if you humbly choose the last seat, you have
nowhere to go but up.
Susan: If we elevate ourselves, we are virtually
putting a target on our backs for those arrogant and haughty to people to come
and knock us off our high horse. If we give all the glory to God and wait on
Him to lift us up, there is no one who can take that from us since the Lord
Himself gave it to us.
2
Samuel 22:28 (NIV) You save the humble, but your eyes are on the haughty to
bring them low.
Proverbs
16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
James
4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but
giveth grace unto the humble.
James
4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Ponder
this and Apply it: Self-aggrandizement, pride, is putting yourself
in the place of God rather than humbly, gratefully giving the Lord all the
glory for any achievement in your life. In a way, pride is the opposite of
thankfulness. God elevates those with a servant’s heart. May we seek to serve
rather than to desire prestige. Make a point this week to give God the credit
and the glory for any success great or small in your life. Then honor Him with
praise and thanksgiving.
Revelation
4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou
hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
Philippians
2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good
pleasure.
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