Luke 14:7. When Jesus noticed how the dinner guests all went for the places of honour, he told them this parable…’Don’t choose the best seats, go sit at the lowest..then the host may honour you by moving you up higher. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.’
The actions of Jesus the Christ have profoundly altered our society. Until the time of the Gospels, humility was seen as a bad thing. Moderation and modesty were ok, but humiliation, having to show respect to those less important than you, was the worst thing. Everyone wanted to be shown honour and respect. We are so used to it, that we fail to realise how shocking and unbelievable was the early Christian message that, although the Son of God had died by crucifixion, but he was still the Saviour of the world. A piece of wall graffiti from the Palatine hill guards area in Rome shows a donkey headed man on a cross, with the scratched in words, ‘Alexamenos worships his god’. The graffitists obviously thought that was the stupidest thing ever, to worship someone who had died on a cross.
Jesus dying on the cross, for the sins of the world, turns everything upside down. Because of Christ, the places of shame and failure now become the places of honour and new life. Once we know that, we don’t have to constantly seek honour from others.
How to be humble, and not so full of ourselves? Tell God how we are, be as truthful as we can, and then let it go to God, so that we are not constantly obsessing about ourselves. Focus on others – ask how they are, look for ways to show interest and respect or give support. Ask for feedback or constructive criticism about how we are doing. Be teachable. When something doesn’t work out, look back and see what you could have done differently. And remember, there is always forgiveness, even for the worst possible things.
