Luke 14:1 “And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him.” Verses 7-11: “And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them, When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room. But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”
This teaching is considered minor and is often overlooked. The word to notice is “marked” as seen in verse 7. Jesus noticed how many chose a chief room in the house. There was no humility or self denial.
A chief of the Pharisees, one of the most popular, knowledgeable and higher classed had a supper and invited Jesus along with the other guests. Notable people in that day had big houses with many open rooms. The roof top would be the gathering place. It was a play of politics. Favoritism, two-faced human nature was prevalent. Some of the less fortunate would be invited so others would comment on what a good person the host was. Jesus saw through it all.
Jesus marked how some stepped over others to get to the best room, close to the best, most likeable people. They wanted close to the roof top—vanity of vanities. Jesus saw human nature at its base level. All the Pharisees watched Jesus. He sat by a man who had dropsy. He healed him. After being questioned about it, Jesus took the opportunity to teach them a lesson about themselves.
Assuming and taking the right position is not something many do. Saying “I’m not this kind of person” may be only how we see ourselves, and it may not be true. We tend to have trouble showing humility and denying self. We struggle with pride speaking constantly of “me, myself and I.” Life doesn’t revolve around us; it revolves around the Lord. Christianity doesn’t depend on you or me; it’s about God. We are to humble ourselves, then we’ll be lifted up. Society has blinded us. Don’t get caught up in this self image phase. Don’t strive to be more than God wants. When we seek carnality of the world, we forget about God. Do we do as much for the Lord and our relationship with him as we do for ourselves? Our bond should be with the Lord.
The people at this supper got there first and took the prominent rooms to be noticed. They wanted to be where they could gain the most. What are our aims in life? They should be to glorify God; we should be promoting God and seeking what he wants. We don’t tell God which room we want. Some go so far as to quit church when they don’t get it. This is the cart before the horse. You and I put God first. Remember “it’s not my will but thine be done.” We take the lowest seat. Don’t look after what’s best for our own vanities. Go to the lowest place when bid to come. Christianity occupies the lowest room. We have to empty ourselves of pride and self to learn how much we need the Lord.
When we got saved we fell before the Lord. He doesn’t fall before us. We must not consider ourselves here because we deserve it. God saw the bad and asked us to be part of his kingdom, members of his grace. There are no upper and lower floors in heaven. God puts us all on equal ground. There are no big I’s and little you’s. There are no seats lower than another’s. Don’t seek the high place when we can’t sit in the lower. Don’t do what God doesn’t intend. He may tell us to go back where we belong. Be satisfied with what seat we’ve been put in by the Lord. Take what seems to be a back seat, but don’t call it lowly. If we sit right God will call us up.
In the house of God, it’s better to have the Lord seat us and not the other way around. In God’s seat we will go how he’d have us go. It’s important to know that God looks down and finds us where he wants us. Let’s desire to be as God wants. The only way for God to say come higher is to be on the low end.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 