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“Everyone who is proud will be humbled, and everyone who is humble will be exalted.” – Luke 14:11 (AFR83)
We stay with Luke chapter 14.
In Luke’s gospel there are at least ten table conversations. In this case, Jesus is at the home of a prominent Pharisee. However, it could also be one of the typical conversations that took place after the service at the Synagogue when a visiting rabbi was invited to address those present. Jesus would then probably be the invited rabbi.
Jesus tells a parable after he sees how the people scramble to get the front seats.
Everyone wants to be important, to be seen, to be recognized, to be appreciated, to be complimented, us too. This in itself is not wrong. No man can live without encouragement. We owe it to each other to notice and encourage each other on the road of life.
Life is not easy and just the fact that we survive every day is already a mercy. Far from us making life difficult for each other.
In this case, those present scramble to occupy important places. Some places were reserved for the more important people, while ordinary people sat further from the host.
Jesus refers to a wedding. One can hardly imagine the embarrassment of a person who took a place reserved for someone else.
That’s good advice that Jesus gives. Humility is contagious when it is genuine, not a false and plastered humility that other people can see through.
In the parable that Jesus tells, the host or the person responsible for the order arrangements and logistics comes to the person who took a less important place and escorts him to the place of honor. While the guests observe this process, this person’s prestige rises with the others present.
It is very difficult for people to be ordinary. We want to stand out and like applause. The world’s applause is short-lived and people quickly change their minds.
Who is applauded today will be humiliated on the front page of the local paper tomorrow.
Believers strive for the applause of heaven rather than of earth. Believers yearn for the day when it will be said: “You are such a good and faithful servant, you have been faithful over a little. I will appoint you to the glory of your Lord”, as in Matthew 25:21.
- ToekomsVenster is a daily message to equip individual believers with practical faith skills. Small group accompaniments, DVDs and functional sermon sketches are available from Drienie ([email protected]) or visit www.toekomsvenster.co.za
