Praise Him with a Humble Heart
Looking for Honor – Part 1

Scripture Reading: Luke 14:5-14

Key Verse: Luke 14:11

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Jesus was at a dinner with many of the Pharisees when He noticed how they were picking their places at the table.  In Jesus’ day, a dinner table was a central focus and had specific places for dignitaries to sit; these were places of honor.  Jesus realized that the Pharisees were rushing to these places to sit; they were looking for honor.  Jesus knew a basic principle: It’s not very honorable to look for honor.  Honor is bestowed on a person.  If we are deserving of honor, we will humbly wait until others give us honor.

Jesus told them a story with a very practical lesson in it.  He told them that when they are invited to dinner, not to rush to the place of honor lest someone more distinguished than them walks in.  The host would have to ask them to move to a lower position.  How humiliating!  Jesus tells them to come to a dinner and pick the lowest seat at the table.  Then when the host comes in, he may insist for them to move up to a better place.  Then, Jesus said, “You will be honored” (vs. 10).

Within this story is also a kingdom principle: “for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (vs. 11). God is watching, in other words, and is taking note on how humbly a person is living life.  God is promising to promote the humble, but demote, eventually, the proud.

Father, I am determined to live my life humbly before you.  I will not fight for my rights; I will leave that to you!  In Jesus’ name, amen.