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PARABLE OF THE INVITED ONES – WHERE DO I SIT?
MONDAY, JUNE 15
Luke 14:1-11

Memory verse: Luke 14:11

 

“For whosoever exalteth himself

shall be abased…”

 

PARABLE OF THE INVITED ONES – WHERE DO I SIT?
 
Like the Pharisees and lawyers, we love to be seen as important people. At a banquet, we do not like to be seated in obscure corners or placed the furthest from the host at the dining table. The ones who sit closest to him, especially the one who sits at his right hand, are usually the most important among his invited guests. Others who love to sit next to the host would envy him.
 
This was what Jesus observed in the home of the chief Pharisee, which prompted Him to give the parable of the invited ones. He used a wedding feast as His example. When invited, it is best not to sit in the highest room because a more important person may come later and you would be asked to leave and be seated in the lowest room. But when you come and sit in the lowest room and the host sees you and asks you to sit in a higher room, others will see you as being promoted.
 
Jesus gave the lesson at the end of the parable. He said in Luke 14:11, “For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” Carnal men and women often measure themselves by their earthly titles and man-centred accolades. They like to be called presidents, chief executive officers or managers. These titles make them great in their own eyes and in the world’s eyes. They get invited to important activities where they are the guests-of-honour, seated in the highest seat. Their egos and pride-filled hearts rejoice with these empty, foolish, pitiful praises. If he is somebody based on these externals, then he is nobody. Take them all away, and he has nothing, for these will all be gone with time and death. A child of God sees himself only as a sinner saved by grace. Whatever praises the world may heap on him, he knows they are nothing compared to what he has received from God. He has tasted God’s grace and mercy in Christ in his life. He is eternally grateful and knows he already has everything he needs in Christ. He needs nothing of what the world offers him. Therefore, to sit at the lowest seat is not a game he plays, hoping to be promoted, but the reality of a sincere spiritual experience he receives from God, that he knows he is nothing if not for God’s grace.
 
THOUGHT: Where do I usually sit when invited?

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, may I sit at the lowest seat. Amen.

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