I’m the son of Missionaries from South Africa to the United States. Whenever someone asks me where I’m from I always let them know where I’ve come from. My family had humble beginnings. Very humble. I’ve learned many things from them. One of the most important things I ever learned as a child was the importance of being humble. This is a simple part of christianity that people can forget about.
I was having lunch with a good friend of mine this week. He reminded me of the passage in Luke 14 where Jesus teaches about humility. The Bible says :
“When Jesus noticed that all who had come to the dinner were trying to sit in the seats of honor near the head of the table, he gave them this advice: “When you are invited to a wedding feast, don’t sit in the seat of honor. What if someone who is more distinguished than you has also been invited? The host will come and say, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then you will be embarrassed, and you will have to take whatever seat is left at the foot of the table!
“Instead, take the lowest place at the foot of the table. Then when your host sees you, he will come and say, ‘Friend, we have a better place for you!’ Then you will be honored in front of all the other guests. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
If I can stress one thing to other worship pastors, or any other leaders out there, it’s to remember. Remember what God has done for you. I’m not talking about what God has done in the sense of bringing you out of sin, but “where” he’s brought you from. When people become successful, even just a little bit, we can easily forget what led you to that success.
Something I’ve been thinking about in my own life is where God has brought me from. Like I said earlier, we had humble beginnings. We were homeless, but God had been orchestrating something for our family. I could go on and on about that but I’ll leave you with this bit of revelation. In my life, God has tended to work things into my life like a puzzle.
People I met years ago told me about a church in Kansas City, MO. A piece of the puzzle. When I went to that church I met some of the most influential people in my life who helped guide me to where I am today. Another piece of the puzzle. From there songwriting was strengthened in me, another piece, musicality was continuously developed, another piece. And now I’m getting ready to start another piece of this puzzle God is putting into place. But none of this would have happened if I hadn’t learned the simple truth from my parents. Probably the most important piece of the puzzle.
So be quick to serve, let nothing be beneath you. Be someone who will do what nobody else wants to. Be the guy packing the trailer dripping with sweat. Because even if you think nobody sees it, God does. God sees you taking the low seat and letting someone else be honored. God sees you even when you feel like you’ve been hidden. God sees, and God will honor you in front of men. Don’t chase the seat of honor. Chase the low seat because that’s where character is developed and strengthened.
And it’s the view from the low seat that will allow you to see from the seat of honor with humility. Knowing that it was God that put you there.