IT IS BETTER TO BE INVITED UP THAN TO BE ASKED TO STEP DOWN

Proclamation:

“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 and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’… But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ … For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”  Luke 14:7-11 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of Jesus, The Christ, as recorded by Luke, the physician, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Here again Jesus was invited to dinner at the home of a prominent Pharisee and Luke records the parables which He told them after He again healed a man on the Sabbath. (Luke 14:1-5)  Jesus told them the parable of the impolite guest, (Luke 14:7-11) the parable of the great supper, (Luke 14:12-24) the parable about building a great tower, (Luke 14:25-30) the parable of the king going to war, (Luke 14:31-33) and the parable about salt that loses its flavor. (Luke 14:34-35)

Application:

When you are invited out to dinner at an affair without assigned seating, do not sit in the best seat, the seat of honor, or at the head table.  That seat may reserved for someone else deemed by the host to be more important than you.  It is better to sit at a lower table and be invited up to the head table, than to sit at the head table and be asked to give up your seat and move to a lower table.  It is not good for us to think too highly of ourselves. (Romans 12:3)  He who thinks too highly of himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be lifted up. (Luke 14:11)  Too much pride brings embarrassment and dishonor, while true modesty will be rewarded.  

BE NOT PROUD HAUGHTY OR CONCERNED WITH WORLDLY MATTERS

Proclamation:

“My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.”  Psalm 131:1 (NIV)

Explanation:

The words of this psalm of ascent were written by David, before he became king, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  David knew that he had already been anointed king but he behaved humbly in King Saul’s court.  He did not concern himself with matters of state or of the church.  He was humble, content with his current station, and not aspiring to anything else. (Psalm 131:2)

Application:

Unfortunately, most of us are not content with our current station in life.  We are not content with that which we already have or have achieved.  We are ambitious and we want something better, loftier, newer, more luxurious, or more influential.  If we came into a large sum of money, most of us would change our standard of living instead of maintaining and enjoying our current status, and sharing more with others.  We need to learn to appreciate who we are and what we have.  We also should not look down upon those who have less than we have.  We have been blessed and we should be thankful for that which we have.  We need to be humble and not haughty, appreciative and not ambitious, pious and not proud, content and not craving.  Like the Apostle Paul learned, we need to learn to be content in whatever state we find ourselves in. (Philippians 4:11)   

God Gives Grace To The Humble

"... All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'  Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time."  1 Peter 5:5-6 (NIV) 

These words were recorded by the Apostle Peter, who wrote them under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  After addressing the elders, and then the young men, Peter addressed all of the believers and told them to be humble.  He said that The Lord God did not like the proud person, but He blesses the humble individual.  Those who humble themselves before God, will be lifted up by Him in due time.

People who exalt themselves will be put down, and those who humble themselves before God will be exalted. (Matthew 23:12)  We should not think more highly of ourselves than we ought to. (Romans 12:3)  Too much pride in ones self will lead to destruction. (Proverbs 16:18)  The proud shall be brought down low, but the humble shall be upheld. (Proverbs 29:23)  Pride is one of the things that comes out of the heart and mouth of man that defiles him. (Mark 7:20-23)  Pride is not of God, it is a worldly thing. (1 John 2:16)  Believers, therefore, should pray for, and practice humility.  We need to humbly submit to The Lord God and obey His Holy Word.  He will end our suffering, and He will lift us up and graciously bless us, in due time. 

The Humble Will Be Exalted

"For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."  Matthew 23:12 (NIV)

These are the words spoken by Jesus, The Christ, to His disciples, to the crowd, and to the Pharisees and Sadducees in the temple in Jerusalem, as recorded by the Apostle Matthew.  He said this after telling them not to do things just to be seen by men.  He also said that they should not seek lofty titles, or call themselves "Rabbi", or "father", or "teacher".  The man who exalts himself will be brought down, and the man who humbles himself will be exalted.

We should not promote or exalt ourselves, true promotion and exaltation comes from The Lord, He puts up one and puts down another. (Psalms 75:6-7)  He will honor and bless whomever He chooses, for whatever purposes He chooses.  The proud shall be brought down and the humble shall be honored. (Proverbs 29:23)  It is better to be invited up to a position of honor than it is to be asked to move or step down after taking a position or seat on your own.  It is better to be humble than to be proud. (Proverbs 16:19 and 1 Peter 5:5)  If we humble ourselves before The Lord, He will lift us up. (James 4:10 and 1 Peter 5:6)