What Does Humility Look Like?
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.”
This is a passage that personally challenges me. Why? Because I often want to take the place of honor at the table instead of the lowest place. Jesus is challenging the most inherent part of our sinful nature which is pride. Pride is always asking the question, "What about me?" Pride is a pre-occupation with oneself over others. Pride is sometimes called the "secret sin" because it can't always be seen on the outside.
Jesus offers a solution to the basic character flaw we all have which is the character trait of humility. Humility as Paul describes it in Philippians 2 is, "Considering others interests as better than my own." A person of humility comes into a situation and does not ask what do I need, but what do the others need. Jesus the most powerful man in the world was also the most humble. Again Paul sums it up like this, "Not considering equality with God as something to hold on to, Jesus emptied himself and became a servant."
The great character quality of humility is what the world is looking for from those who would call themselves Christian. It is all too often a rare quality in leaders across the board today. Jesus was the ultimate servant leader. Jesus showed strength through weakness even up to willingly submitting to the authorities to be crucified. After the humiliiation and lowliness of the cross, Jesus rose from the dead and God exalted him to the name that is above all names.
As you look at your life is there a quality of humility in it? Where do you need to humble yourself so you will be exalted? Where do you need to take the lowest place at the table and let someone else sit at the head of it? As you exercise humility you will be modeling the life of our Lord and Savior and showing the world what true strength looks like.
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.”
This is a passage that personally challenges me. Why? Because I often want to take the place of honor at the table instead of the lowest place. Jesus is challenging the most inherent part of our sinful nature which is pride. Pride is always asking the question, "What about me?" Pride is a pre-occupation with oneself over others. Pride is sometimes called the "secret sin" because it can't always be seen on the outside.
Jesus offers a solution to the basic character flaw we all have which is the character trait of humility. Humility as Paul describes it in Philippians 2 is, "Considering others interests as better than my own." A person of humility comes into a situation and does not ask what do I need, but what do the others need. Jesus the most powerful man in the world was also the most humble. Again Paul sums it up like this, "Not considering equality with God as something to hold on to, Jesus emptied himself and became a servant."
The great character quality of humility is what the world is looking for from those who would call themselves Christian. It is all too often a rare quality in leaders across the board today. Jesus was the ultimate servant leader. Jesus showed strength through weakness even up to willingly submitting to the authorities to be crucified. After the humiliiation and lowliness of the cross, Jesus rose from the dead and God exalted him to the name that is above all names.
As you look at your life is there a quality of humility in it? Where do you need to humble yourself so you will be exalted? Where do you need to take the lowest place at the table and let someone else sit at the head of it? As you exercise humility you will be modeling the life of our Lord and Savior and showing the world what true strength looks like.
Comments
Post a Comment