THE LOST ART OF HUMILITY
Jesus taught this timeless spiritual principle promoting humility over self-promotion. He illustrated the principle with a parable concerning seat selection at a wedding banquet. He observed that it would be better to take a “lowly” seat at the table and have the master elevate you to a better one, than vice versa. A similar instruction to this principle is “Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth” (Prov. 27:2).
Tooting your own horn used to be frowned upon by an earlier generation. However, in this self-promoting, Facebook world that we live today, is this still true? Don’t the humble go unnoticed, while the loud get the spotlight? How in the world does taking the seat at the kid’s table get you elevated to the head table?
I suppose it depends on the host. It depends on the master of the banquet. For the world’s head table is filled with braggerts and puffed-up imposters. But the order is turned upside down at the Lord’s table. At the Lord’s table the humble are exalted and the prideful, laid low. As we read in the book of James, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).
Consider the meekness and humility of Jesus. He is the King. He is the Host and Master of heaven’s table. Yet, He stooped to wash the disciples feet. He is both our model and our Master. Let’s allow Him to choose our seat at the table.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we humble ourselves before You. For You alone are God. We put to death our desire for approval and praise and direct all praise to You alone. For our heart’s desire is to be seated with the saints at the wedding supper of the Lamb. In Jesus’ name, amen.