7 Then when Jesus noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. He said to them, 8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor because a person more distinguished than you may have been invited by your host. 9 So the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this man your place.’ Then, ashamed, you will begin to move to the least important place. 10 But when you are invited, go and take the least important place, so that when your host approaches he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up here to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who share the meal with you. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

REFLECTIONS

Written by Alan Vongsavanh

Today's passage picks up from where yesterday’s passage left off: Jesus is dining at the house of a prominent Pharisee. Jesus sees that the guests would arrive and pick the most important position at the table. He uses this opportunity to teach his listeners that God’s order of things is different – that those who exalt themselves would be humbled, whilst those who are humble will be exalted.

I can’t help but think of myself, and I’m sure I’m not alone – we all like to feel important and be treated that way by others. However, Jesus gives us the warning that if we see ourselves as better than we are and better than others, we will be humiliated in the judgement to come, and that those who are humble will be honoured. This reminds me of Matthew 20:16, where Jesus says, “So the last will be first, and the first last.” God’s ways are so different to the ways of our world and the instincts of our hearts.

Jesus’ teaching also reminds me that if we think we’re more or better than those around us, if we compare ourselves to others and let ourselves get puffed up, we’re believing that we have earned the honour we are given – which means we’ve forgotten that all things come from God, as undeserved gifts. The way to honour is to realise and accept that you don’t deserve honour.

Let’s remind ourselves that we do not belong to this world or it’s values, and our goal is not to be honoured by the world. Pray that God would help us not to see ourselves as greater than we ought, but to humble ourselves before God and others. Pray that God would raise us to honour in the kingdom to come, not because we have earned it by because of his grace.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alan is a member of our Bossley Park Morning congregation.