A Table of Humility
Readings: 22nd Sunday OT
The wisdom of proverbs
tells us to “Conduct our affairs with humility.”
Jesus teaches humility in
the parable of the wedding feast. “Do not take the place of honor but go to the
lowest place. You will be esteemed when the host invites you to a higher place
of honor.”
Humility is shown “inviting
the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. You will be blessed because of
their inability to repay you.”
What is humility? In our
faith, humility is a virtue. It is recognizing our relation to God and the
acceptance and submission to His divine grace.
Jesus is our example. His
humility was accepting and submitting Himself to divine grace.
This is a truth about
humility. Humility begins in the place you find yourself. Where are you
at the table: the place of honor or the lowest place? The proverb says,
“Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favor with
God.”
My grandparent’s kitchen
table filled the room. My papaw made it so (at the least) all 12 of his
children could sit at the table. As the children got married and had families
of their own, I remember how that huge table became small. So for holidays and
special events an eating schedule developed.
After everyone gather for
the blessing of the food, the first group at the table would be the grown men
and any guests. Second to eat was the older grandchildren; the third group at
the table was the youngest children. The last group to eat would be my mamma,
momma, and aunts who cooked.
I did not recognize this as
humility. Most of the food was gone by the time they got to table. My mamma,
momma, and aunts were important people to me. They should have been the first
to eat.
I said that’s not fair. My
mamma’s answer, “Mais no, (But no; of course not) the second time we eat at
the table. We always have the first taste when we are cooking. It makes us
happy seeing everyone eat.
An attentive ear can tell
you that there is much wisdom in those words.
Happiness is found serving
others. We get our first taste of heaven humbling ourselves before God. For
each of us, it‘s in a different way. Humility begins in the place you find
yourself. When we serve others for God, even the huge table becomes small.
Heaven is a place of
celebration. Our invitation is Jesus Christ. Jesus who humbled himself by his
sacrifice and made his table is open to all who believe in him.
Come to the table of the
Lord. Humble yourself before others; humble yourself before God.
Y’all be good, y’all be
holy and preach the gospel by the way you live and love. Amen.
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