Taking the Lower Position

“When you are invited to a wedding feast, don’t sit in the seat of honor. What if someone who is more distinguished than you has also been invited? 9 The host will come and say, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then you will be embarrassed, and you will have to take whatever seat is left at the foot of the table!

"Instead, take the lowest place at the foot of the table. Then when your host sees you, he will come and say, ‘Friend, we have a better place for you!’ Then you will be honored in front of all the other guests.   Luke 4:8-10

My husband is one of the most humble of men I know.  He's no push over, mind you, but he's also no attention seeker.  As he puts it, he likes to work behind the scenes.  He has a gift of teaching but he also has a gift of serving others.  He frequently puts the interest of others before his own and never once desires recognition for anything he does.  One of his most notable quotes in our family is, "Remain humble."  Now before you think I'm putting my husband up on a spiritual pedastal, like everyone else, he's only human and prone to err - after all, he's a man...JK!  However, his heart is in the right place and his biggest desire is to serve God.

As we were talking over coffee this morning, (my coffee not his because he doesn't drink coffee,) he brought up his take on living a godly life...love God first, love others, and take the lower position.    As I listened to my husband explain, I had an 'Aha!' moment.  Of course, we know we are to love God first and to love others (even our enemies). But the third requirement of taking the lower position wasn't quite as clear to me until my husband further elaborated.  He referenced Luke 4:8-10 in explaining the meaning.  After listening to my husband's clarification I felt that familiar nudge of the Holy Spirit telling me...this is good stuff so blog it!  And that, my friends, is what I will attempt to do.  I hope to convey to you what he conveyed to me in fresh, simple terms. 

We all know that pride is a sin and it is something we all struggle with on a personal level.  The Pharisees and the Sadducees had spiritual pride.  They loved the attention their position in the Jewish community gave them.  They felt that they deserved the rank, honor, and prestige that was due their position.  However, Jesus saw deep into their heart and saw the truth...they were filled with spiritual pride.  Jesus said of them, "Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels. 6 And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues. 7 They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi.’" (Matthew 3:5-7)

The Jewish people looked up to these religious elitists and took their word as God's.  These men who enjoyed the status of their positions and false piety, lorded over the people adding legalistic practices that burdened the people instead of leading them to God.  In Matthew 3:8-10, Jesus said, “Don’t let anyone call you ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters. 9 And don’t address anyone here on earth as ‘Father,’ for only God in heaven is your spiritual Father. 10 And don’t let anyone call you ‘Teacher,’ for you have only one teacher, the Messiah." 

Jesus Christ made it clear that ONLY HE was worthy to be called Teacher and Rabbi - in other words He ALONE is the head of the Church and all within the Body of Christ are under HIS ULTIMATE AUTHORITY!  What this means for us is that we have a DIRECT  line to Christ.  There is no one between us and Him.  Each of us are able to have a one-on-one relationship with God!  Therefore, there is NO ROOM for spiritual pride because NO ONE can boast on his or her own works!  Even our salvation isn't earned, but a FREE gift from Christ Jesus!   

Spiritual pride is blinding.  It blinded the Pharisees and Sadducees from recognizing Jesus's true identity as the long promised Messiah - the ONE and ONLY SON of God.  Spiritual pride can blind us as well - to see ourselves as bigger than we should be and cause us to stumble in our faith if left unchecked. Even mature Christians can be tripped by spiritual pride.  I know - I've been fooled by it myself!

The only way to avoid spiritual pride is to remain humble - to take the lower position.  Humility isn't weakness.  In fact it takes a strong person of faith with Christ's help to remain humble...to restrain oneself from the temptations of spiritual pride.  Humility is quite simply thinking of oneself in proper perspective to God and others.  It's not demeaning yourself as a person, but rather, confidently knowing your identity in Christ and living in such a way that His love permeates your being so much that you are able to love others as He does - and then act on that love.  Humility is the created recognizing and wholly yielding to the Creator.  Humility knows how to stand up in faith, confront in love, and disciple others with compassion - while looking out for their best ETERNAL interest. 

The traits of humility are outlined throughout the Scriptures - both in the Old and New Testament.  I've only outlined some of the traits of humility that really stood out for me this morning in our discussion.

• Humility only boasts in the Lord, not on itself.  As the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 10:17    In other words, boast in what GOD is doing.  Sure, we have to contribute some elbow grease in living for Him, but ultimately, He rightly gets the credit and glory - not us!  Paul says that if we do boast, to boast in our weaknesses so that others can SEE how God is working through us DESPITE our weaknesses (2 Corinthians 12:8-10).  Think of the POWERFUL TESTIMONY we have for Christ if would would boast of our weaknesses!  Besides, humble people have no need to boast on themselves, their wealth, or their position because, quite frankly, that's not in their DNA.  Most often, their good reputation proceeds them anyway, causing those who know them to naturally respect and honor them.     
• Humility doesn't exalt itself.  "I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 18:14   In fact, Jesus says that if we desire greatness in the Kingdom of Heaven, then we must become the least!  But I wonder how many of us would be satisfied working behind the scenes with little or no recognition?  How many of us would be willing to give up our seat at the table so that others would be able to sit and eat?  How many of us would continue to serve God whether anyone of importance noticed or not?  How many of us simply serve out of love, when there isn't anything we can gain?  How many of us willingly do the jobs that no one else wants to do?  I know people who are humble and consistently serve with joy and gladness - never seeking attention nor serve for personal gain.  I sincerely admire those people. 
• Humility is unselfish and looks out for others.  Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. Philippians 2:3-4  Our motivation should be born out of an unselfish heart, one filled with love and desire to serve Him.  We must love others as Christ did and act out of that love.   Keeping our motivation in check by  surrendering our hearts to Christ moment by moment is the antedote to pride and selfish living.
• God favors the humble.  What do you think the Scriptures mean when they say that the spirit God has placed within us is filled with envy? 6 But he gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say,“God opposes the proud but favors the humble.”  7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  James 4:5-7   Not only does God favor the humble, but he gives us all that we need to remain humble and flee evil desires - even pride.  Pride was Satan's downfall - he desired the same status as God.  Spiritual pride can come between God and us.  Therefore, He will even oppose us when we have spiritual pride in order to discipline and restore our relationship with Him. 
• God honors the humble.  Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.  James 9:10   Humility requires that we recognize our own sin, confess it before God, repent, and seek forgiveness.  Then, God will answer our request giving us all that we need to live humbly.  What's more, God honors the humble - though we may not be honored in this world, God will honor us.  So be patient.  Remain steadfast.  And rest assured that all things He promises will come about in His perfect timing.

We must be thankful for whatever good things God blesses us with in this life - including times we are honored or rewarded.  But we must receive all such blessings, honor, wealth, position, and good gifts with total humility...accepting such things with a thankful heart and always ready to give away that which we have received.  Most importantly, we must remain humble, not boasting upon ourselves or our own works - for we are nothing and have nothing aside from Jesus Christ.  Instead let us boast in what the Lord is doing despite our weaknesses - pointing others to the cross with our testimony.     

Thankful for my husband who has taught me the importance of taking the lower position in life.  I'm learning how to remain humble. 

Grace and peace, friends!

In His Love, Cathy