June 10 - Don't Go Hunting for Honor
June 10
Don’t Go Hunting for Honor
Bible Reading: Luke 14:7-11
7So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them: 8“When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; 9and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. 11For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
THERE’S A STORY told of a famous man called Principal Cairns, who was so humble that he would never even enter a room first. He would always stand aside and say to his companions, "You first. I'll follow."
On one occasion this man was among the honored guests at some public event. As he stepped onto the platform, the audience saw Cairns and erupted in applause. Upon hearing their applause, he stopped in his tracks. He motioned for the man behind him to go first, assuming that the clapping and cheering was for that man. He then stood back and joined the applause. He never dreamed the applause could be for him.
Of course, such sincere humility impressed people and brought even greater honor to Principal Cairns. That's sort of what Jesus meant when he said, "The proud will be humbled, but the humble will be honored" (Luke 14:11). When you act like you think you're big and important, it can be embarrassing to find out that you're not as big or not as important as you thought. But when you're humble enough to let other people get the applause and attention, you may be surprised at how much people appreciate you and honor you.
Hunters will tell you that it's better not to peer into the woods and brush, trying to see a deer (or whatever it is you're hunting); instead, you should keep a wide field of vision, not trying to focus too tightly on anything, because it's easier to see small movements out of the corner of your eye. In other words, the harder you look, the less likely you are to see what you're looking for. It's kind of the same with humility and honor. If you go hunting for compliments or applause, you're less likely to get it; but if you're not looking too hard, you might be surprised at the honor that will come your way.
REFLECT: Jesus was a guest in a Pharisee's house when he spoke the words found in Luke 14:7-11. To find out a little more about the Pharisees (and Jesus' views on pride and position), see Matthew 23:1-12.
Do you ever "go hunting" for compliments (like on Facebook)? for attention? for applause? Do you want to be more like the guests at the banquet (in Luke 14), who competed for position, or like Jesus, who "did not demand and cling to his rights as God [but] made himself nothing" and humbled himself (Philippians 2:6-7)? What are some ways you can do that?
ACT: Try to imitate Principal Cairns today by letting others enter a room before you, perhaps even telling them, "You first. I'll follow."
PRAY: "Lord, forgive me for the times when I've demanded my rights."