Thematic Selections from the Bible

Lk 14:7-14

7 And he spake a parable unto those that were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief seats; saying unto them,

8 When thou art bidden of any man to a marriage feast, sit not down in the chief seat; lest haply a more honorable man than thou be bidden of him,

9 and he that bade thee and him shall come and say to thee, Give this man place; and then thou shalt begin with shame to take the lowest place.

10 But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest place; that when he that hath bidden thee cometh, he may say to thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have glory in the presence of all that sit at meat with thee.

11 For everyone that exalteth himself shall be humbled; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

12 And he said to him also that had bidden him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, nor thy kinsmen, nor rich neighbors; lest haply they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee.

13 But when thou makest a feast, bid the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:

14 and thou shalt be blessed; because they have not to recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed in the resurrection of the just.

Jesus here is speaking so as to humiliate the proud. Seeking praise is something that was common during those days (and still holds true in many places today), particularly so for the religious leaders of Israel and the Jews in general. Jesus was humiliating people when he spoke of this. Effectively, he was saying, “Not only are you seeking praise from others, but you’re doing so in an unwise fashion”. False humility is practices in many oriental societies, where people pretend to be humble and expect praise from others in return. This might not work as well in Western countries, where honesty is more highly valued, but the basic principle exists there as well. But in John 5:44, Jesus has more to say about this topic.

John 5:44

44 How can ye believe, who receive glory one of another, and the glory that from the only God ye seek not?

In Gal 1:10, Paul writes that pleasing men falsely isn’t a characteristic of God’s servant:

Gal 1:10

10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? or am I striving to please men? if I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ.

On the other hand, genuine humility comes through a change of heart. James 4:7-10 talks about this, and can be summarized as the following: Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and Purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

Jas 4:7-10

7 Be subject therefore unto God; but resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye doubleminded.

9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall exalt you.

A true servant seeks not his own reward, but serves because he loves God and wants to honour him. In the end, though, Christ will reward him. Likewise, those who are genuinely humble seek not their own honour, but to honour God. Yet, God will honour them.