Better To Be Invited Up Than To Be Asked Down

"Do not exalt yourself in the king's presence, and do not claim a place among great men; it is better for him to say to you, 'Come up here,' than for him to humiliate you before a nobleman."  Proverbs 25:6-7 (NIV)

The wise man, King Solomon, taught that it is good to be humble.  It is better to be invited up to a seat of honor, than it is to take a seat among honored guests and to be humiliated by being asked to move and step down and give the seat that you took to another.  

We should not assume that there is a seat of honor reserved for us.  We should not take a seat of honor without being told to sit there.  It does not matter whether that seat is on the podium, on the stage, at the head table, at the head of the table, or in the reserved seating section, we should not assume that we are being so honored.  We should humble ourselves and sit in an unassuming place until we are invited to sit in a seat of honor.  It can be a very humiliating and embarrassing experience to be asked to give up a seat which you chose that was reserved for some one else.  Being humble can spare us a lot of hurt feelings.  It is better to be invited up, than to be asked down.  Honor is better bestowed upon us than wrongly presumed by us.  Jesus, The Christ, taught a similar lesson in a parable about the narrow door. (Luke 13:22-30)  His point was "those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last."  He taught a similar lesson in the parable about a wedding. (Luke 14:7-11)  His point was "for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."  This can also be applied to other situations.  Do not exalt yourself to The King of Kings, do not falsely include yourself among the righteous.  There will be those who will show up to the judgement seat at the entrance to heaven, and they will be asked to leave.

Don't Brag Or Boast About Yourself

"Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips." Proverbs 27:2 (NIV)

Do not brag or boast about who you are or what you have. Jesus told the parable about the certain rich man who said to himself "... you have plenty of good things laid up for many years ..." and told him "You fool, this very night your life will be demanded from you." Luke 12:16-21 (NIV) Brag about what you have and you may not get to enjoy it.

"As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil." James 4:16 (NIV) Arrogant boasting about your accomplishments leaves God out. You are taking credit for what He allowed and caused to happen.

"It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to to seek one's own honor." Proverbs 25:27 (NIV) Self-seeking and pride can lead to one's downfall.

"We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise." 2 Corinthians 10:12 (NIV) "For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom The Lord commends." 2 Corinthians 10:18 (NIV)

Be humble and lift The Lord up, and He will lift you up.