Is it hard to be humble?

The Parables of Jesus

March 23, 2022

“Is it hard to be humble?”

Luke 14:7-11

Many years ago, one of my assistants at Alberton’s Supermarket would often sing a song by the late Mac Davis. The first few lines go like this:

Oh Lord, it’s hard to be humble

When you’re perfect in every way

I can’t wait to look in the mirror

Cause I get better looking each day

To know me is to love me

I must be a hell of a man

Oh Lord, It’s hard to be humble,

But I’m doing the best that I can

Reading the verse from the song gives you some insight into my assistant’s personality. He was a nice guy a hard worker, but he struggled with humility.

Unfortunately, the word of this song ring true for far too many of us today.

The Oxford Dictionary describes humility in this way:

a modest or low view of one’s own importance; humbleness.

This brings us to today’s Parable.

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Jesus at the Pharisee’s house – Part one

(We’ll be looking at part two tomorrow)

“When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this Parable: “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 7:7-11

The best way for me to describe this Parable is to say, “Always be humble, lest you be humiliated.” Jesus explains to those in the Pharisees’ home, including His disciples, that we should never look to be acclaimed over others.

In Jesus’ Parables, His example of a wedding feast is the same as saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven.”

Jesus isn’t telling us to always take the lowest place in everything we do so that we might be raised up. Instead, he admonishes people like the Pharisees who think they’re better than others. If the Pharisees weren’t using there’s ears and hearing Jesus, He hoped that his disciples would learn from this example and always practice humility.

One of the most common forms of humility I can think of is allowing someone to get in front of you at a check-out line or holding the door for someone as you enter a store. All of us are busy people in our own way. But, should we allow ourselves to be so busy that we can’t show kindness and be humble before others?

Jesus said, “The first will be last, and the last will be first.” I choose to be last in favor of my fellow (man/woman). What about you? Or is it “Hard to be humble” for you😊?

Dear Jesus. You showed your love for mankind by being a humble servant to all when you sacrificed yourself for our sins. Help us follow in your footsteps and have a humble attitude towards everyone. Amen.