You see it all the time on t.v., the news, new shows, everything that comes to us these days has an air of urgency about it. That urgency? Get what I can as quick as I can because life is all about me. There is so much competition these days for who is the best, and, unfortunately, this competition has found its way into our churches as well. It saddens me to see many of us trying to put ourselves into high places by our words and our actions. Many of us tell stories about ourselves, many to me that are, quiet frankly, hard for me to swallow. We long for the attention, we want people to say, "Look at him/her, aren't they great!?!" This should not be friends. If Jesus taught us anything, it was to love others more than ourselves and not to exalt ourselves, but to exalt God and others.
"But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, "Friend, move up to a better place." Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 14:10-11.
Friends, there are two ways to attain high esteem. The first is the world's method: take every opportunity to promote yourself before others, seize occasions for recognition and manipulate your way into the center of attention, all the things I mentioned earlier. The second way? God's way: Humble yourself. Instead of striving for recognition and influential positions, seek to put others first. Learn to cultivate humility friends, because it really does not come naturally. One of the many paradoxes of the Christian life is that when God sees your genuine humility, He exalts you.
Take a look at Proverbs 16:18 "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." This warns us that if we put our efforts into promoting ourselves, we will be brought down. In our passage in Luke, Jesus told of a man who tried to enhance his own image. While attending a banquet, he immediately claimed the seat of honor. When the host saw this, he humiliated this man by asking him to move to the least honorable place to make room for a more distinguished guest. Jesus tells us that the wise thing to do is to seek the lowest position and allow others to exalt us if they feel we are worthy.
I think we need to learn that there is an enormous difference between the way the world honors us and the way God does. Proverbs 25:27 "It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to seek one's own honor." This should indicate to us that glory is not legitimate if we seek it for ourselves. When the world exalts us, we are the ones that receive the credit. However, when God exalts us, others will praise Him for what He has done in our life. If we honor God, He will honor us (1 Samuel 2:30). Strive to humble yourself and bring glory to God. Allow God to be the One to honor you in the way that pleases Him! Remember, if we do this, Scripture says that God will most likely bless us with better than we expected!
May God richly bless you today!! H Trent!
"But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, "Friend, move up to a better place." Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 14:10-11.
Friends, there are two ways to attain high esteem. The first is the world's method: take every opportunity to promote yourself before others, seize occasions for recognition and manipulate your way into the center of attention, all the things I mentioned earlier. The second way? God's way: Humble yourself. Instead of striving for recognition and influential positions, seek to put others first. Learn to cultivate humility friends, because it really does not come naturally. One of the many paradoxes of the Christian life is that when God sees your genuine humility, He exalts you.
Take a look at Proverbs 16:18 "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." This warns us that if we put our efforts into promoting ourselves, we will be brought down. In our passage in Luke, Jesus told of a man who tried to enhance his own image. While attending a banquet, he immediately claimed the seat of honor. When the host saw this, he humiliated this man by asking him to move to the least honorable place to make room for a more distinguished guest. Jesus tells us that the wise thing to do is to seek the lowest position and allow others to exalt us if they feel we are worthy.
I think we need to learn that there is an enormous difference between the way the world honors us and the way God does. Proverbs 25:27 "It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to seek one's own honor." This should indicate to us that glory is not legitimate if we seek it for ourselves. When the world exalts us, we are the ones that receive the credit. However, when God exalts us, others will praise Him for what He has done in our life. If we honor God, He will honor us (1 Samuel 2:30). Strive to humble yourself and bring glory to God. Allow God to be the One to honor you in the way that pleases Him! Remember, if we do this, Scripture says that God will most likely bless us with better than we expected!
May God richly bless you today!! H Trent!
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