daily java

Daily Java:

When Jesus noticed that all who had come to the dinner were trying to sit in the seats of honor near the head of the table, he gave them this advice: “When you are invited to a wedding feast, don’t sit in the seat of honor. What if someone who is more distinguished than you has also been invited? The host will come and say, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then you will be embarrassed, and you will have to take whatever seat is left at the foot of the table! Instead, take the lowest place at the foot of the table. Then when your host sees you, he will come and say, ‘Friend, we have a better place for you!’ Then you will be honored in front of all the other guests. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 14:7-11)

Ninth grade. I can still remember it. I took Mary Beckheusen, an eighth grade girl, to the church Christmas banquet. I even bought a black suit from Sears to wear because it was semi-formal. Mary wore a semi-formal dress in gold, I believe. We had jumbo shrimp in the Holiday Inn banquet room. This is how the rich people live, I thought at the time, going to banquets, being fancy.

When we walked in, I was clueless as to where to sit. I was after all, a ninth grader. So we picked a place and sat down.

Someone came up after a few minutes and told us we couldn’t sit there. That was the head table. So we moved. It was rather embarrassing.

I have never forgotten that. While it was not a major humiliation, I have still remembered it throughout the ensuing forty-five plus years. And I have to admit, I have never sat at the head table again unless someone asks me to.

For one thing, I recognize what a head table is now. I didn’t then.

But there is a point to all this. And Jesus makes it here. Don’t grab the best seats when you walk in.

There are some people who just seem to crave the attention of being at the front. They will take the most visible seats right off. And then they will get huffy when someone points out that those seats are reserved. How dare anyone have a chair better than mine.

I have gotten used to being in front, with people looking at me, listening to me, the sound of my voice amplified. That doesn’t bother me. But when I come to the point that I have to be there, that I can “serve” nowhere else, I have crossed over into arrogance.

If you are that great, others will tell you. If you deserve a high place, others will give it to you. If you need to sit up front, someone will tell you.

And if you don’t they will tell you that, too.