Before we go into today’s study, i will like to say that I am so grateful for every reader and to those who have been following this series. I have been getting great feedbacks and i am so happy that this series is of great blessing to you as it is to me. We are now half way through this series which we started in January and i must say, that personally i have and i am still learning as we go. I have had days when i had to go read and study these bible studies again just to get the help i needed in those days.

I would like to encourage you to keep studying God’s word. Keep seeking, keep knocking and keep asking. Keep waiting until your change comes. And if this blog is blessing you in any way, please share with others so they can partake of the blessing too.

Now to today’s study.

The fifth category of the parables Jesus gave, is the parables about humility. The first parable in this category is the parable of the wedding feast; found in Luke 14:7-11. The bible text say;

⁷ 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: ⁸ “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? ⁹ 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!

¹⁰ “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. ¹¹ For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Interpretation

The front seats are usually reserved for special guests at events. Most times, these people have earned their seats in some capacity. Either by age or by the office they occupy. The front seat is seen as a seat of honour. Human beings like to be respected and honoured; so it is natural for us to desire to occupy the front seats.

People today are eager to raise their social status any way they can. Be it by being with the right people, dressing for success, driving fancy cars, adding unearned titles to their names etc. At the surface, these things are not bad. But often times, they are laced with pride and insecurity. The pressure to impress others is making people live lives that isn’t really theirs. The need for honour is making many live that has false foundations. False lives which is sadly seen on social media as successful.

Service isn’t fancied anymore. Instead many want to be served. Who are you trying to impress? Rather than aiming for prestige, look for a place where you can serve. If God wants you to serve on a wider scale, he will invite you to take a higher place. But until then, serve wholeheartedly at the backseat. The backseat prepares you for the front seat. The stage comes with its own battles. If you go on it prematurely, the heat will burn you.

Pride goes before a fall. Humility helps sustain the crown. We are too quick to embrace seats that have not been assigned to us. Some believers are operating in roles and capacities that aren’t theirs but they are there because they want to be seen and heard. God isn’t glorified with an offering coming from a prideful heart. Not everyone will occupy the front seat. This doesn’t mean that you are not growing. It just means that you are doing exactly what God wants you to do. This is true service. And if God gives you a bigger platform, then embrace it and serve Him on/via those platforms with humility. This equally is true service. But until then, let’s serve where He has placed us.

If you would like to read previous parables, please click here.