BETTER TO BE INVITED UP THAN TO BE ASKED DOWN

PROCLAMATION

“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 shall thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.  For whosoever exalted himself shall be abased, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”  Luke 14:10-11 (KJV)

EXPLANATION
These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, which were spoken by Christ according to Luke, the physician.  On one Sabbath day, Jesus was invited to eat at the home of a prominent Pharisee.  While He was there, He saw a man who was suffering, and He asked the Pharisees, “Is it was lawful to heal on the Sabbath day?”  They did not respond to Him, and so He healed the man. (Luke 14:1-4)  Then He asked them, “If one of you has a child or an ox that fell into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull it out?”  Again they were silent. (Luke 14:5-6)  When He noticed how the guests picked their seats at the places of honor at the table, Jesus told them the following parable.  “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited.  If so, the host who invited both of you will come to you and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’  Then humiliated, you will have to take the least important place.  But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’  Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests.  For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”  (Luke 14:7-11)  He told the host, when you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, relatives, or rich neighbors.  Invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind, those who cannot repay you, and you will be blessed at the resurrection of the righteous. (Luke 14:12-14)  Then He told one of the guests about a certain man who prepared a great banquet and invited many guests but they all offered excuses as to why they could not attend.  Then he told a servant to go and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame but there was still room for more.  Then he told his servant to go out to the highways and hedges and compel all that he met to come because he wanted his house to be filled. (Luke 14:12-24)  Then Jesus talked about the cost of being His disciple. (Luke 14:25-35)

APPLICATION
Our pride can cause us to needlessly suffer.  One whose pride causes him to exalt himself will be humiliated and embarrassed.  One who truly humbles himself will be exalted.  The proud in heart are an abomination to The Lord. (Proverbs 16:5)  Everyone who is proud and lofty, who lifts himself up, shall be brought low. (Isaiah 2:12)  The Lord God resisted the proud, but He gives grace to the humble. (James 4:6)  It is better for us to be invited up to a place of honor than it is to be asked to move down to a lesser place.  “For all those who exalt themselves will  be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11)