When Jesus noticed that all who had come to the dinner [in the home of a leader of the Pharisees] were trying to sit in the seats of honor near the head of the table, he gave them this advice: “When you are invited to a wedding feast, don’t sit in the seat of honor. What if someone who is more distinguished than you has also been invited? The host will come and say, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then you will be embarrassed, and you will have to take whatever seat is left at the foot of the table!
“Instead, take the lowest place at the foot of the table. Then when your host sees you, he will come and say, ‘Friend, we have a better place for you!’ Then you will be honored in front of all the other guests. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Key Thought
Most of us detest self-promotion when we see it in someone else. However, each of us has a strange ability to find “reasons” why we “need” to promote ourselves. Jesus wants us to give up on our self-promoting ways. He calls us to be humble and then let God do the exalting. We shouldn’t be surprised that the apostle Paul held Jesus up as the perfect example of humility — Jesus didn’t cling to position; he emptied himself of self-promotion and was obedient to God, and God exalted him at the proper time. [1] Pride is destructive, selfish, and poisonous to Christian service and Christian maturity. Let’s humble ourselves before both God and other people and trust him to honor us at the appropriate time.
Today’s Prayer
Father, I confess to you that I sometimes feel overlooked and underappreciated. Part of me longs for the spotlight and the accolades that come with it. Yet, dear Father, I know that longing is foolish pride grabbing my heart. I know Satan longs to use that pride to incite envy, pettiness, gossip, vanity, and a host of other unholy traits in me. Humble me gently, Father, for I do trust that you have established my value as one of your beloved children. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Related Scripture Readings
Isaiah 57:15Philippians 2:5-111 Peter 5:6Ⓒ 1996-2023 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.