The Humble Seat

The man looked around the room hauntingly, his nose wrinkling in disgust. So many filthy people here. He craned his neck to and fro looking for a seat. Front and center of the room there was a seat still open. Ah ha. He smiled and made his way through the crowd.

Meanwhile, a young, poor man had also spied the same seat. He knew he wasn't royalty or anyone special, but he had been working in the fields all day, and longed for a place to rest during the meeting. The seat was open, and it appeared no one was saving the space...

They both stepped up to the open seat at the same moment. Young, poor man against older, distinguished gentleman. Who would claim the seat?

The older man glared down his long nose at the boy. Why the seat belongs to me! Without another thought, the pompous man plunked down and waved his hand dismissively at his fellow man.

Downtrodden and weary, he made his way to the back of the room. He found an open space of wall, and rested against that.

Unbeknownst to both men, they were being watched. And there was a lesson to learn. Soon the talking ceased, and every ear in the room was tuned into the parable...

"Imagine you have been invited to a wedding feast for a rich man's son. Many were invited to the celebration. Young and old. Rich and poor. You are just one in a sea of people. Do not march up to the front, to the most honored spot of the feast, and sit there. What if someone more distinguished then you arrived? The host would have to ask you to move, because you sat in the distinguished guest's seat! Then you will be filled with shame and embarrassment at being sent to the lowest seat in the feast! When you are invited, go sit in the lowest place, so when the host comes he may say to you, 'Friend, take a honored seat at the front of the feast.' Then you will be honored in the presence of everyone present. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

The young man smiled when he saw Jesus make eye contact with the older man. He stifled his laughter as the older man shot out of his seat, and stormed out the door.

Based on Luke 14:7-11

So in this parable, Jesus is trying to convey a point. He didn't want the people treating each other with holier-then-thou attitudes. No one is better then someone else, and He was trying to convey the message of humbleness to the people.

Being humble means to have a modest or low estimate of one's own importance. This doesn't mean that God wants us to think of ourselves as dirt. Jesus wanted the people to stop acting so self-important! We all know people like that, and they are just awful!

There were people who walked into that meeting with an attitude that said, "I'm already holy and important. What's this guy going to teach me? I will sit at the head of this table. I deserve it." When we start thinking we deserve it, therein lies the problem.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

"Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant then yourselves." Philippians 2:3

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the might hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you." 1 Peter 5:6

"Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." Matthew 23:12

So why couldn't He just say don't do that, and leave it there? Because He wants to take it a step further. He wants us to put others first. Not only that, He wants to exalt us and bless us by saying, "Hey, this guy is a really cool person. He's a great friend of mine. Move him on up to my table." 

Jesus is the best example of humble. He, God, was born on earth as a baby, with faulty human parents and temptations galore. He lived a life of service. Jesus participated in no elbow-rubbing of the rich and important. Just loving and serving the broken and searching-the sinner.

Have a humble heart. Have a heart that is putting others first, honoring them and what they do. Let God honor and exalt you. He has a special seat for you. Front and center. A laminated  piece of paper with your name written in fancy scroll rests in your seat. Instead of marching down to the front acting like you own what belongs to God, sit in back, and let Him tell you He's reserved a place for you. Leave the strife, rivalry, and conceitedness where it belongs. Outside. In the garbage.

"If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness." 2 Corinthians 11:30

Humbleness is a showcase for God's glory. Be humble so that He can showcase His glory and love through you.

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