The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost - September 02, 2007

Preached at Providence Lutheran Church, Holland, O.

Pastor Dennis R. King

“Humble us, Lord and Help Us to Honor You!”

Luke 14:1,7-14

The Grace and Mercy of our Lord, Jesus Christ, be with you all. Amen!

In our text this morning, Jesus takes a simple scene from His life, interprets the thinking of those present, and teaches an important lesson about life. A lesson - that humbles us and helps us to honor Him.

Jesus had accepted a Sabbath day invitation for dinner. It has been noted humorously that in Luke’s Gospel Jesus seems to be “always eating.” On just about every page, he’s either going to a meal, or coming from a meal. Further more, in His teaching, Jesus frequently compares the Kingdom of God to a banquet or uses other food themes. Jesus knew how well people liked a good meal. He was very observant. In our text we see Him taking notes of the seating arrangement and observing how guests were trying to get themselves in the main eating area at or near the head table. He saw how they used their influence to maneuver their way to the right place with the right people. So when the opportunity came for him to speak, Jesus told this parable which He summed up by saying, “For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

A perfect example of this happened late one summer afternoon in a tourist city airport, a lighting storm halted all flights for about an hour. It happened at the busiest daily time for departing flights. Anger erupted almost immediately from people waiting in line to check ticket alternatives. Threats and loud demands were hurled at the helpless counter agents. Frantic keyboard searches yielded few acceptable options as the minutes ticked away. Complaints were relayed up and down the long lines of frustrated travelers. Two petite women seemed unmoved by all this commotion. They stood patiently, carrying on their own conversation quietly. When they finally arrived at the counter, they leaned over and whispered words of comfort and concern to the frazzled agent. They apologized for the verbal onslaught and understood that the situation was out of anyone’s hands. They received their tickets and seat assignments for a later flight, and returned to their seats to await departure. Ninety minutes later, those two women made their way into the plane. Another challenge awaited them because they could not find their seats. A beaming, gracious flight attendant found them, and offered a silent escort to their first class seats, compliments of the appreciative counter agents.

Jesus was a humble servant who became a servant for us that we might eat and drink with Him in His Kingdom. He makes us all welcome in His presence. In this text, He shows some of the obstacles that keep people away from His banquet. One of those major obstacles is the fact that individuals are often preoccupied with themselves. One will elevate oneself at the expense of others without regard for the presence of God. With this attitude one refuses to acknowledge his/her need for God’s help. C.S. Lewis wrote, “A proud man is always looking down on things and people: and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you.” The application of James 4:6 is very appropriate here: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Verse 10 from that same chapter is also useful: “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.”

The world-famous African-American educator Booker T. Washington was standing in the lobby of a hotel one day. A sales agent rushed in loaded with baggage, and ordered Mr. Washington to carry his bags to his room. “Yes, sir,” Mr. Washington replied. He completed his errand and returned to the lobby where his friends, who had come to hear his lecture, were waiting, aghast at the nerve of the sales agent. “That gentleman gave me a tip.” Said Mr. Washington, “I took it so as not to embarrass him.”

What does it mean to be humble? It means first to see Jesus as your Host at the banquet of life. Secondly, it means that no one has the right to come to the banquet. Thirdly, it means that we see Jesus opening the door to all of us in love, taking us by the hand and telling us, “This is my Father’s world, and I am here to make you at home in it. You are welcome here because as your servant I have died on the cross for all your stubborn pride, your selfishness, and everything else that made you want nothing to do with me. The right way to be humble is described by Martin Luther in his sermon on John 3. “It is a demonstration of humility when I say with gratitude toward God. ‘Your will be done. My dear Lord, do with me as you please. I will gladly do it.’”

Once upon a time in a church that had four elders, it seemed that every time something came to a vote, the vote would 3-1. One elder would always be by himself on the losing side. One beautiful, sunny day the one elder who was always on the losing side began to pray with the others. He said, “O Lord, I know in my heart that I am right and they are wrong. Please show us a sign now, so that they will understand that I know your ways.” As soon as the elder finished praying a storm cloud moved across the sky, rumbled, and then disappeared. The elder said, “Did you see that? A sign from God! Now you will have to believe me.” But the other three disagreed, pointing out that storm clouds just sometimes form on hot days.

Again the elder prayed, “O Lord, I need a bigger sign to show them that I am right and they are wrong. Please, God, give me a bigger sign.” This time four storm clouds appeared out of nowhere and rushed toward each other to form one big cloud. Then a bolt of lighting came down and knocked down a tree ten feet away from where they were standing. At once the cloud disappeared. “See, I told you I was right,” said the lone elder. Reluctantly the other three said, “Okay, we will agree with you that God thinks you are right, but that only makes the vote 3-2,” These elders along with us, like the disciples, need repeated warnings about being proud and self-serving.

This text shows us the way. This never changing Jesus looks at us and pours out Himself as a ministering servant to us. The Apostle Paul declares in Philippians, “He took the form of a servant. He became frail. He ate and drank, so that it was evident that He was a true and natural man.” In humbling Himself, Jesus helps us to honor Him and to do the will of His Father. “For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” So we pray, humble us, Lord, and help us to honor you.

As my mother prayed that prayer she wrote this poem.

“The past is all behind us

The future lies before

What will it bring, who can say

But this I know, today is a lovely day.

Gentle breezes blowing

Soft clouds drifting by

The music of life is flowing

My soul is flying high.

Life is eternal I have no doubt

The love of God I want to shout

I see it all around today

So I’ll not worry come what may.

Prayer is the answer to all our needs

God will help us in all our deeds

Ask His direction and have no doubt

He has he answers to what life is about.

Some day He’ll take us to our haven

The weary, sick and heavy laden

There to have eternal bliss

Our Lord, the Christ, has promised this.

May we join our prayers with her prayer and live with such an attitude, “Humble us, Lord and Help Us to Honor You!” Amen.