Serving

So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them: “When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place.  But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Luke 14:7-11




Here we see Jesus entering one of the rulers of the Pharisees house and commenting on how they seat themselves. This is one of my favorite passages. There is so much wisdom in it, so much that Jesus wants to tell this world today. Lets look at this passage then contrast it with today's culture. 


 Jesus is the ultimate servant. His life served everyone around Him while He was alive and today His resurrection is still serving all who are being renewed. Jesus, may we be like You. Every human soul longs to be desired. Every human soul longs for recognition. Every human longs for identity. Some long for these so much, that they create it for themselves. Let me explain. As the book of Romans declares, "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Because of this fall every human is disconnected from God. The peace, joy, and perfection we enjoyed in the Eden are lost. We no longer know ourselves. We no longer know who we are. We no longer know to whom we belong. We no longer know what our purpose is. We are tossed about. Indulging in whatever seems 'good'. Since we no longer know the things previously mentioned, we search for them. Some more than others. Humans begin to create for themselves recognition, identity, and purpose. Where can this lead but selfishness, sadness, and unrest? We were made in the image of God, of His likeness. We must find this again. We were created for glory. His glory. But, without God, we make up our own glory. We dabble in earthly lusts. Only satisfying the flesh, while the soul is dry and empty. God help your children.

In the Godhead we see Jesus Christ coming to earth to save that which was lost. To bring restoration to the entire human condition: lack of identity, lack of purpose, lack of meaning, lack of ambition, just to name a few. This is good news! We can now operate from a place of authority and not defeat. In Jesus we are sons and daughters of God. Hallelujah. Okay! Here we go. Getting back to the passage of Scripture. Jesus sees the Pharisees taking all the best seats. Note that the Pharisees thought they were better than everyone, that they deserved the best seats. They kept the entire law on the outside. But on the inside they were dead and unclean. They got their glory from themselves. They made it up! This is my point. They were SO FULL OF THEMSELVES. They didn't wait on God to give them their position. They took it with violence. With pride. We should always take the lowest place Jesus says. Always. Don't make any plans to be exalted. Let God exalt you. Let Him come to you and say, 'friend go up higher.' Yes God. We submit to your timing. The last to verses are the best. "Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” You will have glory. Because it was GIVEN. Not because you took it for yourself. God will give you His glory. But you must humble yourself to receive it.

The world would have us take whatever we can. Earn whatever we can by human means. Let it never be so for believers in Jesus Christ. Fellow Christians, it's time we started living like Jesus. Stop imitating the world. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Let us become God's children.