The Testimony of Humility

 Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, “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. 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” (Luke 14: 7-11).

Humility is not easy or natural. Since the beginning, pride has led us to exalt ourselves and has made us vulnerable to the temptations of our adversary the devil… “The serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:4-5). Humility is evidence of the new birth and a maturing faith that marks true disciples as set apart from the pride and selfishness of the rest of the world. Today we examine a parable of Jesus that exhorts us to imitate His humility, and I know that diligent disciples will experience His grace as we ask Him to establish and grow within us the testimony of Humility.

Humility reveals the command of Christ. Jesus’ parable centered on the position of the guest in light of the preeminence of the host. He exhorted His disciples to follow the example of the guest that would choose the lowest place, thereby making room for the host to place the guest where he thought best. Maturing disciples are growing in their understanding and trust in the sovereignty of Christ over everything, and we are learning to hear and obey His command regarding our position in every circumstance and relationship… “He (Christ) is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent” (Colossians 1:18). When we put on humility we make room for the blessings of the command of Christ in our lives.

Humility reproduces the compassion of Christ. The proud guest in Jesus’ parable was focused on getting the best seat for himself. In taking the lowest seat, the humble guest left many better seats for others. Jesus often exhorted His disciples even more directly to put others first… “The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:11-12). He was a living example of this indispensable trait of true disciples… “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). When we put on humility we put others first and they see the compassion of Christ.

Humility reflects the character of Christ. Jesus could have inserted Himself as the guest into this parable. If anyone at this Sabbath dinner “at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees” (Luke 14:1) deserved the highest seat of honor, it was the Son of God. This parable is prophetic in light of Christ’s divine mission… “Being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:8-11). The Holy Spirit exhorts true disciples in every age to glorify God by reflecting the humility of Christ to a proud world… “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:3-5). When we put on humility we fulfill our call to reflect the humble character of Christ to others.

As we grow up into Christ, His grace works within our hearts to cultivate…

The Testimony of Humility.