Don’t Go Hunting for Honor

Bible Reading: Luke 14:7-11

"For the proud will be humbled, but the humble will be honored"
- (Luke 14:11, NLT).



There's a story told of a famous man called Principal Cairns who was so humble that he would never even enter a room first. He would always stand aside and say to his companions, "You first, I follow."

On one occasion, this man was among the honored guests at some public event. As he stepped onto the platform, the audience saw Cairns and erupted in applause.

Upon hearing their applause, he stopped in his tracks. He motioned for the man behind him to go first, assuming the clapping and cheering was for that man. He then stood back and joined the applause. He never dreamed the applause could be for him.

Of course, such sincere humility impressed people, and brought even greater honor to Principal Cairns. That's sort of what Jesus meant when he said, "The proud will be humbled, but the humble will be honored" (Luke 14:11, NLT). When you act like you think you're big and important, it can be embarrassing to find out that you're not as big or not as important as you thought. But when you're humble, and let other people get the applause and attention, you may be surprised at how much people appreciate you and honor you.

Hunters will tell you that it's better not to peer into the woods and brush, trying to see a deer (or whatever it is you're hunting); instead, you should keep a wide "field of vision," not trying to focus too tightly on anything, because it's easier to see small movements out of the corner of your eye. In other words, the harder you look, the less likely you are to see what you're
looking for. It's kind of the same with humility and honor. If you go hunting for compliments and applause, you're less likely to get it; but if you're not looking too hard, you might be surprised at the honor that will come your way.

Review: Jesus was a guest in a Pharisee's house when he spoke the words found in Luke 14:7-11; to find out a little more about the Pharisees (and Jesus' views on pride and position) see Matthew 23:1-12.

Reflect: Do you ever "go hunting" for compliments? For attention? For applause? Do you want to be more like the guests at the banquet (in Luke 14), who competed for position, or like Jesus, who "did not demand and cling to his rights as God [but] made himself nothing" and humbled himself (Philippians 2:6-8)? What are some ways you can do that?

Reinforce: Try to imitate Principal Cairns today by letting others enter a room before you, perhaps even telling them, "You first, I follow."

Remember: "For the proud will be humbled, but the humble will be honored" (Luke 14:11, NLT).

Prayer : Almighty and everlasting Father in Heaven, Help us to humble ourselves and do our duty sincerely with the fear of God and we know that you will lift us up. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer.Gratefully, In Jesus Loving Name I Pray, Amen."

The Thief Who Was Robbed

"Be sure your sin will find you out" - (Numbers 32:23). 

Zig Zigler, well-known motivational speaker tells the story about a thief who was robbed. The incident took place back in 1887 in a small neighborhood grocery store when a middle-aged gentleman, Emanuel Nenger, gave the assistant a currency note to pay for the turnip greens he was purchasing. When the assistant placed the note in the cash drawer she noticed that some of the ink from the $20 came off on her hands, which were wet from wrapping the turnip greens.

She'd known Mr. Nenger for years and was shocked. She ponders, "Is this man giving me a counterfeit $20 note?" She dismissed the thought immediately and gave him his change. But $20 was a lot of money in those days so she notified the police who, after procuring a search warrant, went to Emanuel Nenger's home where they found in his attic the tools he was using to reproduce the counterfeit $20 notes. They found an artist's easel, paint brushes, and paints which Nenger was using to meticulously paint the counterfeit money. He was a master artist.

The police also found three portraits that Nenger had painted— paintings that sold at public auction for a little over $16,000! The irony was that it took him almost as much time to paint a $20 note as it did to paint those portraits that sold for more than $5,000 each.

The man who robbed Emanuel Nenger was Emmanuel Nenger. We do the same whenever we cheat or break the law—including God's laws—for illegitimate gain. And while most of us wouldn't rob another person of his or her material possessions, it is very easy to rob a person's reputation through idle gossip.

We also rob and cheat ourselves when we don't give to God and to others in need ... whether it is of our time, talents, resources, or love.

Prayer: "Our Eternal Loving Father in Heaven, help me never to rob myself, or from any person in any way. And help me never to rob from you. Help me, too, to be a giver and not a taker. Gratefully, In Jesus loving Name I Pray, Amen."