Come In Second

Read This Week: Luke 14

When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” – Luke 14:7-11 NIV

It is difficult for us to seek the lowest place in most settings. It goes against our fallen human nature to submit ourselves to humility so that we can think of others first. We do not naturally come in low, even if introversion, shyness, or reservation is our personality. Our flesh seeks the highest place, and we have to make a concerted effort not to want exaltation in our relationships, families, work, and church community. As the Christian organization, I Am Second, says in their mission statement: “declaring oneself second isn’t natural.”

Jesus knew this and addressed the topic of self-exultation versus humility in Luke 14 when he noticed how so many people sought out the places of honor and position at the Pharisee’s house. He noticed the natural tendencies of people to elevate themselves in both advantageous and trivial situations. He observed a clamoring not only for status but significance. That is why he said in verse 10:

But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests.

The Lord was teaching them and us to allow the Holy Spirit to help against our natural tendencies, shortcomings, and essence. To emulate the character of Christ in taking the lowest position even though He alone was worthy of the highest place. To allow the Lord and others to upgrade or raise us up and not to clamor for it ourselves.

He specifically says that if we get caught up in self-exultation, humility will come to us in ways we do not expect or want. But, if we are humble and submit to God’s process of humility, celebration and success will come to us in ways we do not anticipate. Jesus says in verse 11:

For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

We all have a desire to feel important or significant, which is why we fight so hard to find our place of honor. Everyone wants to be noticed and included, but we can’t make it our life’s goal to achieve that status, and we certainly can’t do it at the expense of others. 

We must constantly seek humility and deference to other people because this is a posture and attitude that most resembles the person of Christ. We must desire to come in second. It is the place that honors the Lord in an environment and society obsessed with looking out for number one. Second is the place in our homes, neighborhoods, workplaces, and playgrounds that points to a power outside ourselves. It is the place where glorification will ultimately be a reality, even if it is beyond this life.

The same person who taught us about humility in this passage is the same One that Philippians 2:6-8 describes as the supreme example of humility and why there is eternal benefit to coming in second:

Jesus, who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death!

8 Comments

  1. Heidi on June 18, 2022 at 10:12 am

    I love this song
    We’re all invited to come to the table and sit down and be blessed with the love of Jesus. Today is the day, hope you say yes and you continue to be thirsty every day.

    Come to the Table

    We all start on the outside
    The outside looking in
    This is where grace begins
    We were hungry we were thirsty
    With nothing left to give
    Oh the shape that we were in
    Just when all hope seemed lost
    Love opened the door for us
    He said come to the table
    Come join the sinners who have been redeemed
    Take your place beside the Savior
    Sit down and be set free
    Come to the table
    Come meet this mightly crew of misfits
    These liars and these thieves
    There’s no one unwelcome here
    That sin and shame that you brought with you
    You can leave it at the door
    And let mercy draw you near
    So, come to the table
    Come join the sinners who have been redeemed
    Take your place beside the Savior
    Sit down and be set free
    Come to the table
    Come to the table
    To the thief and to the doubter
    To the hero and the coward
    To the prisoner and the soldier
    To the young and to the older
    All who hunger all who thirst
    All the last and all the first
    All the paupers and the princess
    All who fail, you’ve been forgiven
    All who dream and all who suffer
    All who loved and lost another
    All the chained and all the free
    All who follow all who lead
    Anyone who’s been let down
    All the lost you have been found
    All who have been labeled right or wrong
    To everyone who hears this song
    Oh
    Come to the table
    Come join the sinners you have been redeemed
    Take your place beside the Savior
    Sit down and be set free
    Oh
    Sit down and be set free
    Come to the table
    Come to the table
    Sit down and be set free
    Come to the table

    • Jason on June 30, 2022 at 10:19 am

      I love this song so much, Heidi. Thank you for posting it. The imagery and powerful nature of the idea of being invited to the table to sit with the savior is beautiful and almost overwhelming. This is my favorite part and it gets me every time:

      Take your place beside the Savior
      Sit down and be set free
      Come to the table
      Come to the table
      To the thief and to the doubter
      To the hero and the coward
      To the prisoner and the soldier
      To the young and to the older
      All who hunger all who thirst
      All the last and all the first

      I am so thankful that God called me and gave me a place at the table. It makes me eternally grateful for His kindness, grace, and love.

  2. Heidi on June 18, 2022 at 10:29 am

    What I got from the parable of the great dinner is Father God is inviting everyone to come and be a part of the family of God all the time. His invitation is for everyone!

    Have you ever had dinner with a famous person? For some, you had to pay a lot per plate. We’ll have dinner with Jesus for free. His gift of salvation is free, that is why they call it a gift. Jesus is my Hero, one day I will get to attend the great banquet in Heaven and I hope you will be there too.

    For those who have said yes to Jesus, it’s an honor to continue to go out and be a part of inviting others to know Father God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. We hope people will want to come and not make excuses why they can’t come because they will lose the opportunity to enjoy life with Father God now and forever.

    Father, will you help us to continue to reach out and invite people to come and get to know You today. I love you so much and I am so thankful that I will be blessed one day to come to the big table in heaven. I am so thankful I said yes to Your love.

    • Jason on June 30, 2022 at 10:32 am

      Wonderful stuff, Heidi. I am thankful that I didn’t have to pay a certain amount per plate to come to the table and sit with Jesus. As you said, it was a free invitation out of His love and grace. I appreciate how you translated that idea into the mission and invitation to others:

      For those who have said yes to Jesus, it’s an honor to continue to go out and be a part of inviting others to know Father God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

      It is truly an honor to continue to go out and tell others of the invitation to come to God’s table. It is a pleasure and blessing to tell them it is a free gift of love.

  3. Kathy on June 20, 2022 at 1:58 pm

    In reading Luke 14, this was what God gave me: “Don’t only associate with people who can give something to you. That is self-centered living. You are called to follow Jesus, and He will show you others-centered living. “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” This kind of living will cost you something, but you will be repaid in the end. I have made it so all things are now ready for you to come and receive from Me. If being a Christian is so good and so true, why don’t more embrace it and accept My invitation?

    Preoccupation with material things is a common excuse for not following Jesus. I have a great desire to fill My house. Wanderers and outcasts need to be convinced that they are welcome. True disciples set Jesus first. Faithfulness and obedience to Jesus is the key to you being a good disciple. Your allegiance needs to be to Jesus and not to everyone and everything else. Jesus carried His own cross; you will need to also carry your own cross. Jesus wants to clean up your life. It costs something to be a disciple of Jesus, it costs more to reject Him. Draw near to Him to hear Him.”

    What this said to me was I f I am following Jesus, my life will be others-centered. If I am faithful and obey His word, it will make me a better disciple. I need to show others who don’t know him, that Jesus wants them and welcomes them to His house.

    • Jason on June 30, 2022 at 10:41 am

      This is a tremendous post to the I am second idea, Kathy. We really do struggle with honor and deferring to others in our lives and culture even those who profess faith in Jesus. This part really stuck and convicted me:

      Don’t only associate with people who can give something to you. That is self-centered living. You are called to follow Jesus, and He will show you others-centered living. “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

      I think we do what you said subconsciously as well as consciously. We tend to associate, talk to, and be with those who can give us something in some way. But as you said, that is not others centric and it is certainly not Christlike or His desire for our lives and mission. Thank you for this word and for challenging us to come in second.

  4. Alma on June 30, 2022 at 10:14 am

    This week, God gave me a song from Luke 14:5 called “A New Day”:

    Every day is a new day, every day is a new day
    Every day is a brand new day so don’t worry about yesterday
    Don’t worry about tomorrow we have today.

    Spending time with Jesus every day when we go through trials and storms
    Always remember it’s going to be a better day
    It’s going to be a better day, it’s always a better day with Jesus

    Praise Jesus in the moment. He is our Father, our savior
    He is the true one and only who will help us all.

    Every day is a new day, every day is a new day
    Every day is a better day spending it with Jesus. Amen.

    First, Happy Father’s day to God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. My life gets better when I put Jesus first. Always remember to ask him what we can do together. He is our comforter Strength and shows us just how much he loves you and me.

    • Jason on June 30, 2022 at 10:56 am

      This has a simple and powerful message that we need each day, Alma. We need to remember the presence of Jesus makes everything better. Spending time with Him and in His word is the wellspring of our lives. This part stood out:

      Spending time with Jesus every day when we go through trials and storms
      Always remember it’s going to be a better day
      It’s going to be a better day, it’s always a better day with Jesus.

      It is going to be better. It is always better with Jesus.

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