Humility (by Cathe Laurie)

“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 14:11 ESV).

We All Have a Selfish Side

Now, let’s be honest. We all have that little voice inside us saying: “Me first!”

First in line. The best parking spot. The window seat.

That’s why boarding an airplane can look like the last lifeboat on the Titanic as everyone watches the overhead bins like they’re the Holy Grail.

Jesus Tells Us to Lower Our Place

In Luke 14, we find Jesus at a Pharisee’s house for dinner. While He’s there, He notices something: Everyone is scrambling for the best seats. In that culture, the closer you sat to the host, the more successful you appeared.

Jesus watches this scene unfold and essentially says, “I see what you’re doing.”

“When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor . . . But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ . . . For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 14:8, 10–11 ESV).

Jesus is warning us that scrambling for the top spot is risky. You might claw your way to the best seat, only to hear the host say, “Excuse me . . . that seat is for someone else.” Imagine that walk of shame when we’re told, “No. That’s not your place.” Not to mention how many others we’ll pass along the way, those who we hurt on our scramble to the top.

A Lesson From the Pharisees

The Pharisees were chasing a false version of success—one built on position and proximity to people rather than on character. They treated others like stepping stones. When they climbed higher, they left people behind.

The heartbreaking part is that we fall into this too.

Someone pours into you when you’re new in your faith. They help you grow, introduce you around, and invest in your life. But when you start feeling important or successful . . . you drift away.

Ladies, we must never forget the people God used to help us grow. People who invested time, wisdom, encouragement, and patience along the way. Let’s honor and treasure them as fellow travelers on this journey to Heaven.

True Humility Isn’t Fake Modesty

Humility means remembering that we are now a part of a chain of grace. A chain requires pieces that interlock and build on each other to remain strong. The more pieces there are, the further the chain can reach.

We are most successful in this life when we include others rather than compete with them. When we inspire others and lift them up. Teach those who are just starting out. Help each other grow. Honor those who have stood alongside us. Give credit to those who have shaped our lives.

True humility isn’t fake modesty. Humility is saying, “Lord, here I am. Put me where You want me.” And cheering on every person who finds their place as well.

We all can be successful. We all can have a place of honor. The Host decides the seating. God decides our place. And trust me . . . there’s no better place to be.

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Cathe Laurie is the founder and director of the Virtue women’s ministry. She is also a featured speaker on The Virtue Podcast, at Harvest events, and the author of As I See It. You can find her weekly articles here on harvest.org.