Humble in our Hospitality

Luke’s gospel provides unique insight into the relationship between humility and hospitality. In Chapter 14, Jesus relates a parable to his dinner companions concerning where you should sit when invited as a guest in someone’s home: the seat of highest honor or the lowest. We all know this person because there’s one in every crowd. The person who always migrates to the most visible place or the place closest to the host or the place that appears to be of highest importance. The higher the pedestal you seek, the greater the fall. How embarrassing to misinterpret your own significance in the eyes of the host and have your host ask you to move back from a prominent place of honor, reduced in plain sight of everyone, and forced to trudge back in front of all to the most inconspicuous seat in the house. When communing with your Creator, check your ego at the door. Jesus was no proud, tyrannical ruler. He was a humble, loving, servant King, unlike anything the world has ever seen. He asks us to set aside our pride, and to never forget we are all equal in the eyes of God. Never consider yourself so high that you should selfishly rise above and beyond your neighbors. As Jesus reminds us “For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” So much of what society impresses on us today is that power and fortune and success will elevate us above the masses. Yet nothing could be more contrary to the direction God is pointing us. Jesus worked tirelessly to live His life from within the masses, not from above them or while stepping on them. To Him, this was the true image of success. Follow the example of the King of your heart and use your gifts and talents to walk with the masses, humbling yourself, helping them, and glorifying God in the process. Only then will you come closer to knowing what a true king looks and feels like.