Always choose the lowest seat at the table

[Follower Of Christ]

Luke 14:7-11 is one of my favorite passages in the bible.

"Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him ;and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place ;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.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you ;For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Just wanted to say that ironically, it's not Christ but some other influence that pushes us to forego the lowest seat and claim a higher seat. Later, when it's all done and dusted Christ shall show us our true seating place though.

By the way, three are the main reasons I left the forum for a while: 1. I was seeking a higher seat. 2. Like me I saw many others who claimed higher seats. 3. I have wife and kids and need to work hard to support them. Regardless, in essence I realized I was here at this forum for the wrong reason and supporting in the process other members' wrong reasons for being here.

So, knowing the extent to which you don't know is a necessary step for seeking the lowest seat. Not knowing the extent to which you know is a sufficient step for seeking higher seats.

 

[WIP]

Luke 14:7-11 is one of my favorite passages in the bible.

"Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him ;and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place ;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.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you ;For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Just wanted to say that ironically, it's not Christ but some other influence that pushes us to forego the lowest seat and claim a higher seat. Later, when it's all done and dusted Christ shall show us our true seating place though.

By the way, three are the main reasons I left the forum for a while: 1. I was seeking a higher seat. 2. Like me I saw many others who claimed higher seats. 3. I have wife and kids and need to work hard to support them. Regardless, in essence I realized I was here at this forum for the wrong reason and supporting in the process other members' wrong reasons for being here.

So, knowing the extent to which you don't know is a necessary step for seeking the lowest seat. Not knowing the extent to which you know is a sufficient step for seeking higher seats.

I was thinking about this passage not too long ago while in church and I was wondering if this is part of the reason congregations tend to fill the back of the church and avoid sitting near the front. Are they concerned about appearing to take the places of honor or is it something else? It's a common thing for people to fill the back seats in the church and in some cases, I've heard of pastors moving down to stand in the center isle to be closer to the congregation during the service.

I personally like to take a seat toward the front. I guess I've never really thought too much about it but then when I was thinking of this passage I was wondering if I was doing it out of some kind of pride. I don't think so. In fact, I feel that I do it as a matter of respect for the pastor. Maybe as a way of saying, "Your message is important to me, and I want to hear what you are saying."

 

[Follower Of Christ]

I was thinking about this passage not too long ago while in church and I was wondering if this is part of the reason congregations tend to fill the back of the church and avoid sitting near the front. Are they concerned about appearing to take the places of honor or is it something else? It's a common thing for people to fill the back seats in the church and in some cases, I've heard of pastors moving down to stand in the center isle to be closer to the congregation during the service.

I personally like to take a seat toward the front. I guess I've never really thought too much about it but then when I was thinking of this passage I was wondering if I was doing it out of some kind of pride. I don't think so. In fact, I feel that I do it as a matter of respect for the pastor. Maybe as a way of saying, "Your message is important to me, and I want to hear what you are saying."

Interesting. What you are referring to as the phenomenon of people filling the back seats is more a social rather than spiritual equilibrium where people sit as a way of signalling their outward deference to humility teachings of the bible or just due to plain shyness. I don't think it makes a difference where one sits really at church.

Still what I was alluding to was what we do after we are called by God The Father. From John 6:44 "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day."

So the Father draws us and we are invited after resurrection to sit at a table with Christ. Christ knows where our place is but we don't. If out of pride we claim a higher seat than what our worth is, we are essentially not knowing the extent to which Christ has measured us. On the other hand, if one knows that ex-ante our place could be anywhere on the table it's best to be humble and admit that we are at least guaranteed the lowest seat.

As I have said elsewhere it's much better to know the extent you don't know than not to know the extent you know. Prior to resurrection out of pride and pathos people claim to know all kinds of things about the workings of God when it could be the plain truth they are just dreaming.

 

[WIP]

Interesting. What you are referring to as the phenomenon of people filling the back seats is more a social rather than spiritual equilibrium where people sit as a way of signalling their outward deference to humility teachings of the bible or just due to plain shyness. I don't think it makes a difference where one sits really at church.

Still what I was alluding to was what we do after we are called by God The Father. From John 6:44 "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day."

So the Father draws us and we are invited after resurrection to sit at a table with Christ. Christ knows where our place is but we don't. If out of pride we claim a higher seat than what our worth is, we are essentially not knowing the extent to which Christ has measured us. On the other hand, if one knows that ex-ante our place could be anywhere on the table it's best to be humble and admit that we are at least guaranteed the lowest seat.

As I have said elsewhere it's much better to know the extent you don't know than not to know the extent you know. Prior to resurrection out of pride and pathos people claim to know all kinds of things about the workings of God when it could be the plain truth they are just dreaming.

Kind of like looking through a glass dimly. Now we only know in part but then face to face we will know.

 

[Bruce.Leiter]

Luke 14:7-11 is one of my favorite passages in the bible.

"Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him ;and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place ;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.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you ;For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Just wanted to say that ironically, it's not Christ but some other influence that pushes us to forego the lowest seat and claim a higher seat. Later, when it's all done and dusted Christ shall show us our true seating place though.

By the way, three are the main reasons I left the forum for a while: 1. I was seeking a higher seat. 2. Like me I saw many others who claimed higher seats. 3. I have wife and kids and need to work hard to support them. Regardless, in essence I realized I was here at this forum for the wrong reason and supporting in the process other members' wrong reasons for being here.

So, knowing the extent to which you don't know is a necessary step for seeking the lowest seat. Not knowing the extent to which you know is a sufficient step for seeking higher seats.

Jesus gives an example from his culture, but the main point he makes is his last sentence, the need for us to humble ourselves before God by recognizing that we are much lower in status and position than he is. Adam and Eve's sin was their self-centered action that tried to make them better than God, who had to punish them in order to humble them. The same sin of self-centeredness permeates all of humanity as a result. It was Jesus' unselfishness in going to the cross that is humanity's only hope.