HOST: Ron House
SPONSOR: Start2Finish
Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
One of the sinful attitudes of the Pharisees and Jewish leaders of Jesus’ day was their desire for prominence and praise. They coveted the places of honor and assumed those positions at every opportunity. On this occasion, at a Sabbath dinner hosted by a ruler of the Pharisees, Jesus witnessed this very attitude being demonstrated and told this parable to condemn their haughtiness and teach a valuable lesson about humility. Instead of assuming the highest position and running the risk of being asked to move to a lower place, Jesus says, assume a low position so that you might be asked to move to a higher one. Humility continues to be a much- needed and vital attitude of those who would be faithful servants of God. We cannot and will not be what God would have us to be if we are not willing to humble ourselves and take on the lowly role of servant. But as Jesus and the New Testament often teach, those who humble themselves will someday be exalted by God. May God help us to be humble servants of Him.
What does it mean to be a humble servant of God?
Don’t forget to pray and have a great day!
