Idea: vs. 11, “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Therefore humble yourself in the eyes of the Lord.
The worldly solution to pride treats this passage like instructions on manners. "This is the polite thing to do. Give place to others." Or some will take it as J's business plan. The path to promotion leads through humbling yourself. In other words, do this in order to get ahead. Instead, I urge you to see this parable in the context of Jesus's larger ministry. He didn't come to set down a new set of Emily Posts' manners. Instead, He consistently calls men and women to understand who they are in God's eyes, how all have been lost in sin, how salvation comes as God's gift and is received through faith alone, and how certain sins threaten your souls.
1. Pride goes before a fall.
2. What is Humility?
3. God exalts the humble. |
