How many people have you met lately that would say, “I have taken a job at a new company, because it will allow me to hide in a back corner of the office and never be noticed or promoted.” I’m sure these type of people exist, but they are rarities in our society. For the most part, the business world, as well as all other arenas of life, are marked by the humanistic drive to “climb the ladder of success.” It has gripped Americans to such a degree, that this climb is often grouped into the idealism that we call the American Dream.
But is this the way that Jesus thinks we should be living our lives. Should I make decisions based solely on what those decisions stand to offer me?
Jesus does not think so. In Luke 14, the story is recorded of Jesus visiting a Pharisees house one Sabbath day for dinner. As all of the dinner guests entered, along with Jesus and presumably his twelve, Jesus watched them hurry into the great rooms where the higher seats of dining were located. Like going to the mall on Christmas Eve and watching people scattering all over the mall in hurry, which is one of my favorite things to do with my dad, Jesus watched these fame-seeking pharisees, diplomats, and leaders as they quickly played musical chairs to get into the “best seats in the house.” When the music stopped and everyone was in their seat, Jesus began to teach, I think primarily for the benefit of His twelve disciples who were always wanting the best seat in the Kingdom.
“When you are invited (to a feast) go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend move up higher.’ Then will you be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Jesus makes His desire clear in this short lesson – we are not to seek the popularity of this world; we are not to climb the ladder of success. What should our attitude be then? If God wills, He can move us up the ladder of success in this world without us even taking the first rung. Our attitude should be of a humble status in the Kingdom of God, for blessed is he that eats bread in the Kingdom (vs.15),” it makes no difference in which seat. The crux of the lesson comes when Jesus concludes by telling His hearers that all that would exalt themselves will be abased, and those that are humbly content with where they are in the lower seats, God will exalt. Remember, it does not mean that we are lazy or apathetic or even fatalistic (“What will be, will be attitude), but that we trust in the wisdom and sovereignty of God to exalt us in His due time, rather than trying to exalt ourselves.
Our decisions, therefore, should not be based on “What will this do for my image,” but our decisions should be based on “What will this do for the image or glory of God?” This is my “chief end” for being upon the earth; not that I may climb a ladder of success, but that I might point men up Jacob’s Ladder toward heaven where God Almighty will be seen reigning over all. This is the mark of success for the Christian; this is the “greater seat.”
