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When was a time you showed some humility?

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Chances are, we’ve all been embarrassed by something in life.

Maybe your words didn’t come out like you wanted, or you fell down in front of a crowd.

Tell story of walking up stairs with a huge backpack

Those kinds of things can make us feel humiliated. Similar to that, we can also feel humbled in a negative sort of way.

This could happen when you compete with someone a lot better than you at something like a sport, an instrument, or your grades.

In embarrassing and humbling situations, we choose how we respond.

One choice we can make is to be different from those around us. We could willingly humble ourself and put others first, to give them the better seat, so to speak.

Today we’ll look at a time Jesus encouraged putting others first.

Today we’ll look at a Bible story that’s centered on sitting down in a crowd. Like playing this game, some of the guests in our story attempted to get a good seat before someone else did.

Then Jesus put a twist on things.

If we played the game His way, not hurrying to get a seat would make you a winner.

The last ones would be first.

In today’s passage, Jesus was eating at a Pharisee’s house, and we know the host wasn’t the only Pharisee present at the meal.

Pharisees were religious leaders during the days of Jesus. They often wanted others to notice how they lived, to be seen as important, you might say.

On the other hand, Jesus came teaching a different way to live for God. For this reason, the Pharisees were often watching Jesus and trying to trap Him.

Jesus Dined with a Leader

Luke 14:1 (NIV)

One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched.

Luke 14:7 (NIV)

When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable:

Most of the Pharisees didn’t believe Jesus was the Son of God, so they sometimes tried to test Him by asking tricky questions.

They were jealous of Jesus and how the people loved Him.

The Pharisees sought the best seats in their religious services and enjoyed receiving attention from people.

The same seemed to be true at this party. In Jesus’ day, often there were special seats at big meals. Usually, they were close to the host and reserved for the most important guests.

Jesus just watched as these guests did their best to get the good seats. That scene set the stage for what He wanted to tell them.

Jesus Gave the Guests Some Advice

The Pharisees probably didn’t care much about what Jesus had to say, but He told them a parable anyway.

In simple terms, a parable is a saying or story that illustrates a spiritual truth.

Jesus was a master at telling parables. Rather than coming out and telling others how to live, He often told parables, so people would compare what He said to their heart.

Jesus gave the following parable that was very similar to their current situation. He told about being invited to a feast.

Luke 14:8–11 (NIV)

“When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Jesus’ parables were a way for people to look at their life and consider making changes.

It’s one thing for someone to tell you how you must live. It’s sometimes more effective when you hear or see something that challenges you to live a better life.

Then you determine to change on your own.

Jesus often taught in this manner. Stories today can still work much like parables did in the days of Jesus.

Jesus used a parable to encourage those at the dinner to honor other people and put them first.

Jesus Shared the Outcome of Living a Humble Life

Jesus then turned to the Pharisee host who invited Him to the party.

Jesus gave him some straightforward advice. We don’t know if all the other guests could hear or not, but Jesus gave a clear picture of His heart for people.

In life, we can be tempted to do something for someone because we hope they will do something for us in return.

But Jesus showed the host and us that isn’t what we should do.

Luke 14:12–15 (NIV)

Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”

Remember, Jesus told parables like this to make a point.

Jesus wants us to put others first in our life. It doesn’t mean we can’t invite those we know and love. But His followers should consider others first, especially those who can’t repay us.

People Responded to Jesus’ Teaching

After Jesus told a parable, people often responded to His teaching. In verse 15, one of the dinner guests shouted what a blessing it would be to be at the banquet in the kingdom of God.

It’s possible that this guest understood to some degree the message Jesus had shared with the group.

Putting others first in this life is key to being the kind of person God would invite to a great banquet in His kingdom.

Be First by Living Last

The apostle Paul also encouraged us to live humbly. Let’s read what he wrote about it to a group of Christians in the church at Philippi.

Philippians 2:1–4 (NIV)

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Unlike Jesus, Paul’s approach to teaching people was often to come right out and tell them how to live.

While he didn’t use parables like Jesus, Paul did give the same message as Jesus. Live in humility. Don’t be selfish. Put others first. In other words, Paul was challenging us to have the same attitude as Jesus does.

Ending

Become first by humbly putting others first.

tonight, we’ve discussed what it looks like to humbly put others first in our life.

Of course, this is so much easier to talk about than to do.

Perhaps that’s why Jesus told this parable to the Pharisees. After all, the Pharisees were religious leaders who wanted to live by high standards.

They thought they were better at living that out than everyone else. Jesus told them how wrong their thinking really was.

Jesus demonstrated to everyone how to live by putting the interests of others before His own.

He never tried to impress anyone. Rather Jesus showed His great love for us through His life and death.

And we should have the same attitude as Jesus: To be humble and think of others as better than ourself.

Let’s do our best to put the teaching Jesus shared in this parable into practice.

It still applies to our life today even though it was written a long time ago.

Choose one thing you can do this week to put others first in your life.

Maybe it’s helping someone who didn’t ask for help or telling a person they did a great job at something.

Maybe it’s inviting someone to join you next time we meet together.

Salvation Opportunity

Jesus didn’t just talk about serving others: He did it. Jesus demonstrated how He put others first throughout His life on earth. As the Son of God, He came to earth, was born in humble surroundings, lived a human life, and died for the sins of others. He did all that and more in order to put you and me first.

Is anyone here that we can pray for who doesn’t have a relationship with Jesus or wants to renew their relationship with Him?

Jesus, thank You for teaching us to live differently. Help us to live humbly and put others’ interests ahead of our own. Remind us to treat others as more important than ourself. We pray that You would show us who to serve. Be with our families and friends, and help them with everything they are going through, too. In Your name, we pray. Amen.