Luke 14:7 (ESV) Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them,
Jesus is still at this diner party where He had just healed a man from a serious disease. Jesus was watching all the dinner guests and saw how they seated themselves. Apparently, they were jockeying for the best seats, those next to the dinner host or Jesus. There seeking to choose the best seats in the house revealed their values.
Luke 14:8-9 (ESV) “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place.
Jesus then began to tell them another story, but the story was aimed right at His fellow dinner guests.
He told them not to seek out the places of honor when invited to a dinner. If they did, the host may come and take you to the lowest place and bring someone else into your current higher place. Rather than being honored as you wished, you would then be shamed.
Luke 14:10-11 (ESV) But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Rather, you should sit at the lowest place, the place farthest away from the head table. Rather than exalting yourself, the host may come and have you sit at the head table. The principle is that if you exalt yourself, you will be humbled. And if you humble yourself, you will be exalted. Jesus values humility over pride and so should we.
A proud person values himself above all those around him. Not only does a proud person value himself above others, he seeks to let others know that he is better than everyone else. Pride is a value of the world. Humility is what Jesus valued and so should we. A proud person is very concerned with what other people think of him. The fear of man is rooted in pride.
A humble person is only concerned about what God thinks about him. The fear of God leads to humility A proud person desires to be served by others. A humble person seeks to serve those around themselves. A humble person considers others as more important than himself. A proud person doesn’t want to serve others, whether in their family, at work or in the church. A humble person is always looking for ways to serve, In their family, at work or in the church. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Jesus values humility and so should we.