Me first Me first

From time to time we go through our days feeling justified in ourselves. We think that we are above others by our own proclamation. We have a tendency to push our way to the front, dragging others down if need be to get that coveted position. Some are willing to make comments that are derogatory in nature and play others down while playing themselves up.

Luke 14:7-11 (MSG)

7 He went on to tell a story to the guests around the table. Noticing how each had tried to elbow into the place of honor, he said,

8 "When someone invites you to dinner, don't take the place of honor. Somebody more important than you might have been invited by the host.

9 Then he'll come and call out in front of everybody, 'You're in the wrong place. The place of honor belongs to this man.' Red-faced, you'll have to make your way to the very last table, the only place left.

10 "When you're invited to dinner, go and sit at the last place. Then when the host comes he may very well say, 'Friend, come up to the front.' That will give the dinner guests something to talk about!

11 What I'm saying is, If you walk around with your nose in the air, you're going to end up flat on your face. But if you're content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself."

Others are willing to let someone else do the work but trickle in and try to claim the reward.  Have you ever taken time to measure yourself against someone else, maybe looks, smarts, ability, talent, worldly success?  God is not impressed with any of that in the least bit, your not fooling him even a little.  God knows the heart, he counts that first and foremost, he uses the humble and the meek to do great things in his kingdom. 

Remember David and Goliath, Moses, Gideon..... the list goes on and on, these great men in the Bible didn't push their way to the front in fact some of them went the other direction because they knew they were not capable on their own.  They didn't tell everyone how great they were, they were humble and allowed room for God to have the Glory.  Do you let God have the glory?.....or are you trying to steal away little bits here and there.  Do you serve God for him or for you?  We can get it backwards!!! We can proclaim that it is for God when it is not.  The world is a world of resumes, accolades, awards and accomplishments.  The world judges by titles, certificates and degrees. 

The world wants to know what your qualifications are first.  Then they base their opinion from there.  God says he is our justification through Christ, he is all we need, we don't need worldly proof of our worthiness.  We don't have to have a bio a mile long to do Gods will.  Let the proof be in the pudding,  speak his word, do his will.  There will be a long line of people holding their bio when they go to heaven it will not be the determining factor on if they are in or out.  Watcha think?

Here are a few other verses to take a look at

Matthew 5:5 (MSG)
5 "You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.

Matthew 20:16 (MSG)
16 "Here it is again, the Great Reversal: many of the first ending up last, and the last first."

So I'm thinkn' God really wants us to be humble to trust in him and let the boasters, the ones that would rather talk about all that they have done, and chatter about others measure or worth learn the lesson the hard way.  As my dad used to say,  "If you don't listen.....you have to feel"

God Bless