Humble Yourself

“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”—Luke 14:11

There are two ways to attain high esteem. One is the world's method: Take every opportunity to promote yourself before others; seize occasions for recognition and manipulate your way into the center of attention. The other way is God's way: Humble yourself. Rather than striving for recognition and influential positions, seek to put others first. Cultivate humility, for it does not come naturally. One of the many paradoxes of the Christian life is that when God sees your genuine humility, He exalts you.

Pride is the first step toward destruction. Proud thoughts will lead you to defeat. Proverbs 16:18 (ETRV) 

Proverbs 16:18 warns that if we put our efforts into promoting ourselves, we will be brought down. 

Then Jesus noticed that some of the guests were choosing the best places to sit. So he told this story: "When someone invites you to a wedding, don't sit in the most important seat. They may have invited someone more important than you. And if you are sitting in the most important seat, they will come to you and say, 'Give this man your seat!' Then you will have to move down to the last place and be embarrassed. "So when someone invites you, go sit in the seat that is not important. Then they will come to you and say, 'Friend, move up here to this better place!' What an honor this will be for you in front of all the other guests. Everyone who makes themselves important will be made humble. But everyone who makes themselves humble will be made important." Luke 14:7-11 (ETRV) 

Jesus told of a man who tried to enhance his own image (Luke 14:7–11). While attending a banquet, he immediately claimed the seat of honor. When the host saw this, he humiliated this man by asking him to move to the least honorable place to make room for a more distinguished guest. Jesus said the wise thing to do is to seek the lowest position and allow others to exalt you if they feel you are worthy.

READ ALSO: Christian Discipleship

There is an enormous difference between the way the world honors you and the way God does. 

It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory. Proverbs 25:27 (KJV) 

Proverbs 25:27 indicates that glory is not legitimate if you seek it yourself. When the world exalts you, you are the one who receives the credit. When God exalts you, others will praise Him for what He has done in your life. If you honor God, He will honor you (1 Sam. 2:30). Strive to humble yourself and bring glory to God. Allow Him to be the One to honor you in the way that pleases Him!

© EGDD