Luke 14:8-12 “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

It seems to have much to do with human nature that we seem to want the best for ourselves. We do what we can to elevate ourselves in the eyes of others – looking for more honor, more respect, more recognition. When helping ourselves we reach for the best piece of meat, the largest portion… the best of everything. When we do things, however, that draw attention to ourselves, we run the risk of looking foolish and having our fall witnessed by all those around us. Have you ever noticed that the people in business who have the greatest respect and enjoy the admiration of others are those who started out at the bottom and worked their way to the top? Nobody applauds inherited riches. Nobody congratulates instant millionaires. But those who are humble enough to sweep the floors and work their way to the penthouse, those are the ones who people want to emulate. And how do things like that happen? Simple. God favors the humble. When you are willing let God be the one to raise you up, the sky is truly the limit. But those who try to raise themselves up will find the way down is much faster than the climb up.

Pray: “Dear Lord, remind me to look to the more humble beginning in things, knowing that as I rise up, your glory shines. If I raise myself up, the credit is mine. I would much rather you exalt me and have the glory for yourself, then for me to experience a temporary success only to lose it because only you have the power to sustain. Just because my beginnings are humble, I know my ending will not be the same. And I give you the honor and glory for that right now, Lord, in my Savior’s holy name – Amen.”