How to Avoid Social Embarrasment!

Luke 14:7-11 "When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: 8 “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. 9 If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place.10 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.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. 11 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

In Jesus' day weddings were a gala event.  The seats of honor were carefully calculated so as not to offend anyone.  The most honored guest sat in one seat, the next most honored in the seat next to him, and so on and so on.  If someone sat in the wrong place, they very well have been asked to move, which would have been very embarrasing.  Jesus uses this context to teach pride and humility.  

Instead Jesus recommended the following: "Go and sit down in the lowest place." 

"When we are at the lower place, we aren’t there just to be noticed so we can go up higher. Nor are we miserable there, and letting everyone know by our facial expressions that we really don’t belong there. There is something wonderful in being content in whatever place God allows you to have." (Guzik)

Jesus continues and says if you exalt yourselves among others it is only a matter of time before you are humbled.  If you do not have an expectation of being honored or recognized, you will never be disappointed.  Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, when you do good deeds to get the other's applause, "You have received your reward in full."  On the contrary when you do things for God alone, "A heavenly reward awaits you!"

There is a part of us that likes the place of honor.  Naturally,  we all want to be recognized for our good work. Yet, when it becomes the pattern of our lives, we are headed for a fall.  When we rely on the approval of others we are at their disposal and on shaky ground. If you are relying on someone else's opinion of you for your own happiness you are likely going to be disappointed. In essence Jesus protects us from ourselves when he gives us these commands.  

Take the lowest place then you can be suprised when someone calls you up to the higher place, not the other way around!