Be Humble

Introduction: Arrogant people have a tendency to think more of themselves than they really should. They fail at displaying genuine humility and fail to see the values in others. What is important to them, has to be about them. Conversations, opportunities, relationships, activities, you name it, and the end result has to boomerang back to them. There is no we attitude. Everything is I, I, I.

In this day and time such attitudes are mostly deemed as being acceptable. Our society has taken on the idea that the only way to be successful is to push oneself to the top at all cost, regardless of whom we trample on to get there.

I want to suggest to you today that God is notpleased with such an attitude. He desires us to be the epitome of humility. He not only desires humility from us; but, He empowers us to be humble people. The parable Jesus teaches in Luke 14:7-14 echo’s this mandate for humility as He challenges us to grow in it.

Proposition: Because God mandates humility, we should be humble.

Transition: As we examine ourselves, it calls for the brutal honesty that perhaps in the corners of our heart lie some elements of pride. Humility cannot coexist with a prideful heart, knowing this provides us with an apparent truth.

We Must Eliminate Pride (vv.8-9)

Luke 14:8–9 ESV

8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, 9 and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place.

a. The nature of pride – is the act of puffing oneself up and looking down on the next man.

b. Embrace the nature of humility define – to bring abase or make oneself low

c.Pharisees were prideful (vv. 8-9) Christ noticed how they chose their seats. The custom of there day was to form the tables in the shape of a U. The seat of honor was generally next to the host. He sat near the center of the seating arrangements.

i. They were looking for the highest seat - Honor was a big deal – to be honored meant to be esteemed - Shame was a big deal – to be shamed meant to be shunned or ridiculed

ii. They sought the most attention

iii. Jesus says, don’t look for attention

ILLUS: Charles Barkley played professional basketball for 16 years and for most of that time he was a starter. Late in his career he was traded to the Houston rockets, while there, a player by the name of Kevin Willis came off the bench behind him. One day Barkley made one of the hardest decisions of his life in basketball and went in to his then coach Rudy Tomjonovich and said, “Coach, Kevin Willis should be starting, I’m not the best player on the team” When asked later why did he do it Charles replied, “I realized that regardless of all the other things I had accomplished and the name I had made for myself, I was not bigger than the team”

Transition: We too as believers must make this valuable assessment in our own lives. We are not bigger then the team. We are not bigger than the Kingdom. We are not bigger then our purpose. We are not bigger then Christ.

Application: Make certain pride doesn’t cause you to believe that somehow you are bigger than the Kingdom. When you address people remember the Kingdom belongs to God and He values them just like He values you.

Be honest with yourself and admit you are not the best player on the team. Be honest and admit that you need help. Go out of your way to show appreciation for the talents of others. Go out of your way to recommend others for a specific responsibility. We are not bigger than the Kingdom. Together we make up the Kingdom.

Transition: Relinquishing pride from our lives is no easy task. It can be done, though. Through the power of God and His continuous grace we are able to convey humility. Jesus challenges each of us as we journey the path leading to genuine humility to follow the low road of service. In doing so . . .

II.We Must Choose To Be Servants (vv.12-14)

Luke 14:12–14 ESV

12 He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. 13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

Since pride is an act of selfishness; Servanthood is an act of selflessness. We must choose to be servants not to be served. This is probably one of the most difficult of choices we make as followers of Christ. Loving seems easier, forgiving appears reachable, sharing even seems conquerable, but Serving brings to mind the harsh reality of submission and subjection to the will of others. It is a choice, and a difficult choice, which says, I am willing to follow Christ at all cost. He who became the chief servant urges that we too make this awesome choice. This passage carefully alludes to the work of Christ towards man. Christ chose Servanthood, which led Him to the cross, death and the grave. He chose Servanthood, which ultimately led Him to His resurrection.

Paul teaches,

Philippians 2:6–8 ESV

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Because Christ chose to be a servant we each are offered salvation and the hopes of eternity. Who better to teach us to be humble? Who better to teach us to encounter this choice, than Christ? This choice involves the development of a servant’s heart, which includes several factors.

a.Serve with the right motives (v. 12)

b.Serve with Kingdom purpose (v.13)

c.Serve to exalt God (v.13) - not oneself - not for glory

Transition: When our hearts are made up to serve we find great joy and peace from God. This can only be achieved when we decide to have the heart of a servant.

ILLUS: Question: How do you know you have a servants heart?

Answer: By the way you respond when you are treated like a servant

Application: As we seek to grow in humility we must be mindful of our attitude towards serving others. Choose the servant’s role for your life. Be deliberate in your concern for others. Serve with the right motives. Don’t get that glass of water for the spouse because you expect it in return. Choose to serve because it’s a Kingdom principle. That neighbor who doesn’t have anyone to help with their yard, the child whose parents can’t afford new sneakers. Serve so that God gets glory. Make the best of your serving moments by resisting the urge of feeling prideful and seeking credit for your service and give the glory to God. Choose to be the servant who doesn’t mind being treated like a one. Positions, Atta boys and titles are not your goal but the glory God gets.

Transition: What is the end result of humility? When all that appears to happen is non-appreciation and devaluation of my service and me. What makes it worth it?

III.God Rewards Humility (v.11, 14)

Luke 14:11 ESV

11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Luke 14:14 ESV

14 and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

ILLUS: Mark Twain wrote a wonderful classic titled The Prince and the Pauper. This story depicts the life of two boys who looked identical to one another and decided to exchange clothes and live as each other. One boy, Prince Edward was heir apparent to the throne and while the other Tom Canty was poor and displaced in life. Prince Edward disrobed himself of his royal garments and put on the clothes of a servant pauper. While living as a pauper he met a fellow named Miles Staton, and became his friend. Prince Edward told Miles that he was actually royalty and asked him to help him get back home. Miles heard what he said but didn’t quite believe him. Miles chose to befriend Prince Edward and also chose to serve him because he said he was royalty. When Prince Edwards father died, He urged Miles to get him back to the Castle so that he could be officially crowned king. People who met Edward refused to believe he was king. Miles began to believe him more and more as he talked and the closer they became. They were mocked and ridiculed but Miles chose to keep serving and subject himself to this pauper who claimed to be king. As a result of his choice, when they made it to the castle and Miles found that Edward was truly king, the king rewarded him for his service, pardoned him from all his crimes and exalted him to a seat in his court. This couldn’t have happened had Miles been too prideful too believe who the king was and too selfish to serve him.

a.Pride brings no value to the Kingdom

b.Humility is literally placing our life in the hands of God. He is King.

i. We become His subjects

1.We honor Him with our service

2.We believe His words

3.We do His will

ii.We are rewarded with Grace

1. Saved from the penalty of sin

2.Exalted by the King -from a life of despair -from the bellows of hell

Application: Even as we live today, there is great reward for our service to God. There is great reward to those who choose to serve him. We are His subjects and God requires us to submit to Jesus as Lord. To accept Him as King and recognize His majestic work upon the cross for our sins exemplifies our trust in Him. People may take you for granted and abuse your kindness. You may be mocked. Some may even refuse to acknowledge your heart to serve. Don’t be dismayed nor discourage by this. God notices. You may never be rewarded here on earth or paid but don’t worry. God notices and God rewards.

Transition: Though we are aware of God rewarding us, let us remember our motives should not be the attainment of His reward for our humility.

Conclusion: As believers we are under a divine mandate to display humility. It is through our humility that God is glorified. Living in this day and time often competitiveness and one-upping presents great challenges to resist pride. We should find great comfort in trusting that God rewards those who choose to be servants. When we humble ourselves we bring credit to the Kingdom and please the King.

Christ our Savior exemplifies this behavior above all when He chose to give His hands and feet to the cross, His side to the spear, and His body to the grave. God exalted Him after three days and sealed the salvation of mankind. What better reward for a life of humility than the grace of God. Not cash, cars or commodities, but the Grace of God.