Imagine this…
You’re preparing for a party… big or small… it could be your 30th or 40th birthday party, a retirement, a wedding, a baby shower, Christmas, Thanksgiving… anything!
So many details to think about!
One major detail is who to invite?
Take a minute to think about who would be on your list?
Yea, me too… family, friends, co-workers, those closest to me and those I know
will be good guests!
Have you ever asked yourself why?
Often, there is more to it than “it’s the right thing to do”. For some, yes, there is no way around it, they are family and you MUST invite them. For others you invite, perhaps it’s because they provide a certain type of status, they are good company, not annoying, you have a lot in common, or because you know you might be invited to one of their events in return, or best yet, that they’ll bring you a really good gift!
No follow me to Luke 14:12
You’re preparing for a party… big or small… it could be your 30th or 40th birthday party, a retirement, a wedding, a baby shower, Christmas, Thanksgiving… anything!
So many details to think about!
One major detail is who to invite?
Take a minute to think about who would be on your list?
Yea, me too… family, friends, co-workers, those closest to me and those I know
will be good guests!
Have you ever asked yourself why?
Often, there is more to it than “it’s the right thing to do”. For some, yes, there is no way around it, they are family and you MUST invite them. For others you invite, perhaps it’s because they provide a certain type of status, they are good company, not annoying, you have a lot in common, or because you know you might be invited to one of their events in return, or best yet, that they’ll bring you a really good gift!
No follow me to Luke 14:12
Then he turned to his host. “When you put on a dinner,” he said, “don’t invite friends, brothers, relatives and rich neighbors! For they will return the invitation. Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind. Then at the resurrection of the godly, God will reward you for inviting those who can’t repay you.”
Could you imagine what your party would be like if we followed Jesus’ exact words?!
The point I believe Jesus is trying to make, is that just as God opens the doors of his heavenly kingdom to all people, we must also be inclusive and open our hearts to all people – especially those who can not repay you.
He also points out that instead of seeking status or an opportunity to move forward, look for an opportunity to serve!
But that’s so hard.
Primarily because of this:
The point I believe Jesus is trying to make, is that just as God opens the doors of his heavenly kingdom to all people, we must also be inclusive and open our hearts to all people – especially those who can not repay you.
He also points out that instead of seeking status or an opportunity to move forward, look for an opportunity to serve!
But that’s so hard.
Primarily because of this:
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts. Romans 13:14
Even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God, so to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.
2 Corinthians 12:7
2 Corinthians 12:7
We struggle because of our flesh! Our flesh seeks status in many ways and those many ways lead to pride. And pride is a sin. So that thorn is there as a reminder of our sinfulness.
The hardest thing is that we are prideful without even knowing sometimes.
It’s so sneaky like that!
I recently read that pride results from OVERvaluing ourselves and UNDERvaluing others. This leads to restlessness because it makes us dissatisfied with what we have and concerned about what everyone else has or is doing (Life Application Bible).
So true! Right?!
So how do we squash it?
Through the virtue that relates to pride… humility
Humility puts others first and allows us to be content with God leading our lives. Such contentment gives us security so that we don’t have a need to prove ourselves to others, and instead, serve others, so that their lives may be enriched.
With that being said, your party becomes a service to others.
Not gonna lie… that’s kind of a weird thought.
And as I wrote in an earlier blog entry… our lives are not for us… our lives are to be lived as examples of Christ, for others!
Because in humility, we compare ourselves to Christ, through which we realize our sinfulness and understand our limitations as humans. We don’t devalue ourselves and rather minimize the passions and desires of our flesh so we can become more like Christ.
And once again, doing that is very difficult. We can’t just snap our fingers and expect our passions and desires to decrease. Therefore, we can’t become humble by trying to be humble.
We become humble through our
relationship with God.
So don’t just pray for humility… seek God, serve others in His name, and build a
relationship with Him!
Then we will receive the greatest invitation of all… an invite to sit at a table in his heavenly kingdom.
The hardest thing is that we are prideful without even knowing sometimes.
It’s so sneaky like that!
I recently read that pride results from OVERvaluing ourselves and UNDERvaluing others. This leads to restlessness because it makes us dissatisfied with what we have and concerned about what everyone else has or is doing (Life Application Bible).
So true! Right?!
So how do we squash it?
Through the virtue that relates to pride… humility
Humility puts others first and allows us to be content with God leading our lives. Such contentment gives us security so that we don’t have a need to prove ourselves to others, and instead, serve others, so that their lives may be enriched.
With that being said, your party becomes a service to others.
Not gonna lie… that’s kind of a weird thought.
And as I wrote in an earlier blog entry… our lives are not for us… our lives are to be lived as examples of Christ, for others!
Because in humility, we compare ourselves to Christ, through which we realize our sinfulness and understand our limitations as humans. We don’t devalue ourselves and rather minimize the passions and desires of our flesh so we can become more like Christ.
And once again, doing that is very difficult. We can’t just snap our fingers and expect our passions and desires to decrease. Therefore, we can’t become humble by trying to be humble.
We become humble through our
relationship with God.
So don’t just pray for humility… seek God, serve others in His name, and build a
relationship with Him!
Then we will receive the greatest invitation of all… an invite to sit at a table in his heavenly kingdom.