“Then when Jesus noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. He said to them, ‘When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, because a person more distinguished than you may have been invited by your host. So the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, “Give this man your place.” Then, ashamed, you will begin to move to the least important place. But when you are invited, go and take the least important place, so that when your host approaches he will say to you, “Friend, move up here to a better place.” Then you will be honored in the presence of all who share the meal with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.’” —Luke 14:7–11
In our verses for today Jesus teaches us not to seek out importance! He tells His disciples the same thing again later in Luke:
“Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.” —Luke 18:14
The word “everyone” used in both of these passages sounds pretty all-inclusive to me! Jesus applies this same principle of humility to our relationship with God—it is necessary for us to humble ourselves before Him. It is only when we admit that we need a Savior that we are in a position to receive God’s forgiveness.
Those who exalt themselves in God’s presence will be brought low, yet for those who humble themselves, God will exalt them.
James tells us:
“But he gives greater grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud, but he gives grace to the humble.’ So submit to God. But resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and make your hearts pure, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter into mourning and your joy into despair. Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you.” — James 4:6–10
Paul tells us in Philippians:
“And God will exalt you in due time, if you humble yourselves under his mighty hand.” —1 Peter 5:6
“Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself. Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well. You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had, who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature. He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross! As a result God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow—in heaven and on earth and under the earth—and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” —Philippians 2:3–11
Become More
This is how it works—we empty ourselves of our own importance and God exalts us in His timing. How much better to be exalted by God!
“Jesus is the One who shows us the paradoxical route to meaning in a chaotic and hostile world. It’s the paradox of the gospel: Strength is found in weakness. Control is found in dependency. Power is found in surrender … God uses the frustrations of this life and the hurt of relationships to compel us to look beyond what we can control to the God who controls all things in order to woo us to himself. As we move from control to surrender, we move from chasing the wind under the sun to embracing God above it.” —Dan Allender, Breaking the Idols of You
Further Reflections
“The way up is down. The lowly one becomes the lifted one. There is a marked advantage to humility—eventually it brings honor.” — Bible Knowledge Commentary
“He has told you, O man, what is good, and what the Lord really wants from you: He wants you to carry out justice, to love faithfulness, and to live obediently before your God.” —Micah 6:8