How to Choose a Seat.

What does Proverbs 25:6-7 have in common with Luke 14:7-11 other than the obvious fact they are both in the bible? In the context from which I am writing they both teach us about humility, and it is all about how we should go about choosing a spot to sit. Although this may sound like a simple matter of choice there are some lessons here that demonstrate how as humble servants of the Lord we need to act.

The thought or message in these two passages is this; if you don’t want to be humbled or humiliated by someone else, you must first humble yourself. As I have said before, it is an attitude of the mind that drives how we choose to live our lives as followers of Christ. I do believe our motives need to be pure as we interpret Proverbs 25:6-7, true humility would have us take our seat in a “lesser” place than the “great men”, our motive should not be to take the lesser place with expectancy around being promoted. I believe that these words carry meaning beyond that of a one-time occurrence of being in the presence of the king. The instruction “do not claim a place among his great men” extends to our life as a whole, our pursuit of wealth and material things just to be like others or even just ahead of others is not the goal. Our goal is to be more like Christ, not our neighbor.

Luke 14:7-11 paints a picture much like that of Proverbs, Jesus’ words in verse 11 sum up both of these passages well; “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted”. Here again we can look back at Christ’s example of humility through His death on the cross; He never exalted himself above others. Always putting others first and his willingness to die on the cross in the truest act of humility brought glory, honor, praise to His name. We have been commanded through the Word to follow Christ’s living example of humility; it is my continued prayer that God helps me choose the “right spot to sit”.