Humility, Part 1
“He told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they would choose the best places for themselves: “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, don’t sit in the place of honor, because a more distinguished person than you may have been invited by your host. The one who invited both of you may come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then in humiliation, you will proceed to take the lowest place. “But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when the one who invited you comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ You will then be honored in the presence of all the other guests. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” – Luke 14:7-11
The theologian C. S. Lewis wrote, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.”
The world of athletics celebrates a pride-driven mindset. Humility is viewed as weakness, and pride as strength. This is just one example of how the Biblical view and the worldview are at odds. In the parable above, the world would encourage you to walk into the room and confidently take the top seat to show your dominance and power. Jesus tells us to do the exact opposite: to take the lower seat.
Is Christ asking us to devalue our worth in public? Yes! Our value should not come from ourselves but rather from Christ alone. Our worth is nothing without Christ giving it to us. To walk around acting like we are the ones who assign value and worth to people and ourselves is walking around like we are Christ himself.
This humble mindset is so counter-cultural, not just in our day but back when Jesus was speaking this here on earth. Pride isn’t new and has contributed to our backward view of humility. Humility isn't weakness but shows your strength is in something other than yourself. Humility isn’t thinking poorly of yourself, just thinking of Christ as the most important.
When you have that mindset, you don’t feel like you must take the most prominent seat in the room. With Christ as your rock, you are secure in your worth without the world telling you what you are worth.
- How does this view of humility challenge your worldview?
- Who do you seek your worth from?
“Lord God, we are secure because we have You. Let us not feel we need to seek assurance from this world but know who we are in You. Give us a spirit of humility to walk in this world, placing You at the top of any situation. Amen.”
