Jesus had been invited to a Pharisee’s leader’s home along with other guests.  As they assembled for the meal, Jesus observed the jostling for position in the seating arrangement.

What did Jesus observe on this Sabbath day?
(NASB) Luke 14:7 “And He began speaking a parable (story) to the invited guests when He noticed how they had been picking out the places of honor at the table, saying to them”

The following is the story (parable) Jesus followed up with after His observation:
(NASB) Luke 14:8-10 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for someone more distinguished than you may have been invited by him.
9 and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then in disgrace (loss of face) you proceed to occupy the last place.
10 ‘But when you are invited, go and recline at the last place, so that when the one who has invited you comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will have honor in the sight of all who are at the table with you.”

Jesus had a point or lesson to His story:
(NASB) Luke 14:11 “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

(NASB) Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves…”

Jesus did not just talk a good talk but He also used that very lesson in His own life:
(NASB) Philippians 2:5-11 “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,
6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant, and being made in the likeness of men.
8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Followers of Christ: in social situations ~ will you choose to exalt yourself or choose the lowest position ~ letting others exalt you?

In the coming New Year of 2014: Will you exalt yourself or yield to God and His ways?