Just a Thought: Don’t embarrass yourself through acts of selfishness. Selfish people are often easily identified by their actions. Jesus used this illustration to teach a parable. Witnessing a wedding being held, Jesus noticed as the guests filed in they each scrambled for the best seats. A seat up front was a seat reserved for the most honored guests. That would be family, relatives and close friends. So, if someone not in that category made their way to one of those seats, they would have to be asked to move further back to give their seat to an honored guest. How embarrassing would that be? Jesus used this to teach a parable about humility and pride or selfishness. He was teaching that people (in this case Pharisees) try to act self-important and push their way in front of others out of pure selfishness, it can lead to humiliation. This led Him to give this instruction to His disciples (followers). “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Lk. 14:11) In other words, if you keep exhibiting acts of selfishness, you’re just going to embarrass yourself by being humiliated in front of everyone! Imagine you are that person. You worm your way into a front seat at the wedding. The house is filling up. And suddenly you feel that tap on the shoulder. “Excuse me, you’re going to have to find another seat further back. You are sitting in my seat.” With a beet red face you stand up, gather your things, tuck your head and try to find another seat towards the back. UGH!!! The best way to avoid being humiliated, Jesus said, is to stay humble. Prideful people are selfish people who think they are soooo important! And they just insist everyone treat them this way too. Don’t embarrass yourself through acts of selfishness! Stay humble. Think of others first. Treat others as though they are super important. Jesus said when we do this, we will be exalted in a proper manner and in due time. Now, put yourself back in the shoes of the person at the wedding. You have settled into your seat towards the back. Suddenly there is that tap on the shoulder. And this time the voice says, “What are you doing way back here? Please, move up front. We saved you a seat way up here.” What a warm fuzzy feeling that would be! As you are ushered up front to a seat where the honored guest sit in front of a full house. My friend, you don’t have to promote yourself. If you stay humble, think of others. And treat others like they are really important. In the proper way and at the right time, it will pay off! Let’s all take Jesus divine advise. Stay humble and let God and others exalt us properly. It will ultimately save us from being humiliated.
