Luke 7:7-14

Sammy Morris was a Christian from Africa who came to the U.S. to go to school. The road he chose was a tough one, but he never let it stop him from making progress. When he arrived at Taylor University in Upland, Indiana, the school’s principal asked him what room he wanted. Sammy said simply, "If there is a room nobody wants, give it to me." Later the president commented, "I turned away with my eyes full of tears. I was asking myself whether I was willing to take what nobody else wanted." 

The desire for the best seat in the house shows up on many levels and in many places. Diplomats are skilled at getting the seating just right to ensure visiting dignitaries are given proper honor by the placement of their chairs.

"But when you are invited, go and recline at the last place.” Luke 7:10

Jesus had more in mind than seating arrangements at weddings. The principle of the parable is in verse 11, "For everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted." 

Where can we suppose Jesus was sitting as he was telling this parable? The best seat in the house is the last seat. "If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all." Mark 9:35

When we take the humble seat it’s the best seat in the house because it’s our Lord’s seat. He showed us the way by willingly heading to the bottom of society’s ladder, to the place of a criminal, to death on a cross. Because He humbled Himself, God has now exalted Him.

We respond to Jesus’ dramatic social choices when we welcome into our community of worship those who don’t quite seem to “fit in.” We all know who they are – just not “up close and personal.” We are not comfortable with them until our hearts become hostage in gratitude to the One who gave Himself fully to exalt us to the status of beloved children of God. 

Then we kneel down to serve instead of sitting down to be served.