He who exalts himself will be humbled

(Today's commentary from the Daily Scripture Reading 9/1/19)

Scripture: Luke 14:1, 7-11

One sabbath when he (Jesus) went to dine at the house of a ruler who belonged to the Pharisees, they were watching him. Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he marked how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, "When you are invited by anyone to a marriage feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest a more eminent man than you be invited by him; and he who invited you both will come and say to you, `Give place to this man,' and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, `Friend, go 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."

Who wants to be last?

Isn't it only natural to desire respect and esteem from others? Jesus' parable of the guests invited to the marriage feast probes our motives for seeking honor and position. Self-promotion is most often achieved at the expense of others! Jesus' parable reinforces the teaching of Proverbs: Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence or stand in the place of the great; for it is better to be told, "Come up here," than to be put lower in the presence of the prince (Proverbs 25:6-7).

True humility frees us to be our true selves as God sees us

What is true humility and why should we make it a characteristic mark of our life and action? True humility is not feeling bad about yourself, or having a low opinion of yourself, or thinking of yourself as inferior to others. True humility frees us from preoccupation with ourselves, whereas a low self-opinion tends to focus our attention on ourselves. Humility is truth in self-understanding and truth in action. Viewing ourselves truthfully, with sober judgment, means seeing ourselves the way God sees us (Psalm 139:1-4). A humble person makes a realistic assessment of himself or herself without illusion or pretense to be something he or she is not. The humble regard themselves neither smaller nor larger than they truly are.

True humility frees us to be our true selves and to avoid despair and pride. A humble person does not have to wear a mask or put on a facade in order to look good to others, especially to those who are not really familiar with that person. The humble are not swayed by accidentals, such as fame, reputation, success, or failure.

True humility frees us to love and serve selflessly for the good of others

Humility is the queen or foundation of all the other virtues because it enables us to view and judge ourselves correctly, the way God sees us. Humility leads to true self-knowledge, honesty, realism, strength, and dedication to give ourselves to something greater than ourselves. Humility frees us to love and serve others selflessly, for their sake, rather than our own. Paul the Apostles, gives us the  greatest example and model of humility in the person of Jesus Christ, who emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, ...who humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:7-8). The Lord Jesus gives grace to those who seek him humbly. Do you want to be a servant as Jesus served? 

Complete the cul-de-sac

[See the daily reading in Luke 14:25-34.]

For over 15 years I’ve driven by a tiny would-be cul-de-sac near my home. I say “would-be” because whoever started it never finished it. The land is cleared, the court is paved and fire hydrants are in place, but that’s about it. A now-faded sign still beckons interested parties to inquire. I wonder if anyone is there to answer the phone anymore, or if the number now dials a Generation Z cell, a teenager occasionally flummoxed by a curious call ... something about wanting to build in her subdivision. (“So I’m like, ‘What?’”)

It always comes down to money – having enough in the first place and then being “all in” with it. Jesus once rhetorically asked a crowd of followers, “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him ...” (Luke 14:28-29).

Of course, Jesus’ point had nothing to do with converting corn fields into housing units, but committing ourselves entirely to Him. It is an exchange measured neither in dollars nor denarii, but our will for His will, our ways for His ways, our lives for His own. Moreover, there is no holding back, no investment diversification, no “spreading our bets”; rather life in Christ is all or nothing. Indeed, to the lukewarm church in Laodicea, Jesus said “you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other” (Revelation 3:15).

When a builder has sufficient funds and puts it all on the table, great things happen. Having dedicated everything he had and the subdivision now complete, his investment yields revenues and wealth far greater than that with which he started. Likewise, Jesus promised, “Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 10:39).

The life we “find” in Christ, however, is not the same as the one we relinquished for it, rather Jesus returns to us “life to the full” (John 10:10). He fills us with new life, His life. In Him, our love for those we hold dear grows even deeper, richer, purer than when we considered them more important to us than God. And only when we are no longer the center of our own universe do we realize how precious we are to the One who gave his life for us and became life in us. In short, we who have lost it all for Christ have gained immeasurably more in Him.

Being “all in” is a gutsy move, but God will see us through, for as Paul wrote, “he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). We let go of everything to which we cling and receive, in return, abundant life and an eternal dwelling place, fully complete and eternally secure.

Lord Jesus, this day, I set aside my life for yours. Bless me to recognize your calling today, to trust in your faithfulness today and to do what you've prepared for me to do today. I go forward in your love and power, even as I rest in you. Amen.

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“Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.... Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full.”  Luke 14:21, 23

The Salvation Army in Central Ohio ministers to trafficked women through a program called, “The Well.”  It’s a drop-in center where these “least among us” – manipulated or coerced into their plight and then bound there by invisible chains of addiction and intimidation – can find respite, even if just for a few hours.  Broken in every way – physically, emotionally and spiritually – they can yet find food for the stomach and nourishment for the soul at The Well.

One day after discussing the first chapter of Genesis, one of the women there approached the social worker who had led the study.  Speaking on behalf of the group, she said, “You always told us we were valued and special, but we never understood what you meant until you showed us in the Bible that God made us in his own image.”

It’s a profound moment when one who lives life with head bowed in humiliation looks up and sees the reflection of God in the mirror.  Must all miracles be tangible?  No!  Liberty is born on the inside.

Is there a lower rung on the social ladder than a woman or child so enslaved?  If so, I can’t imagine it.  But God works among the downtrodden, those with no illusions of worldly grandeur.  For those who’ve lived in darkness know a great light when they see it.

So God sends us into the world with kingdom banquet invitations to deliver.  He points us to the streets and alleys, to the roads and lanes – wherever the D-listers among us can be found – and says, “Go.”

Father, please send your Holy Spirit today to show me who you would invite to your banquet.  Grace me to speak and to act as you lead me.  In Jesus’ name, I pray.  Amen

[To see the daily reading in Luke 14:12-24, click here.]