Football coach illustration

The story is told of a famous football coach who was on vacation with
his family in Maine. When they walked into a movie theater and sat down,
the handful of people there applauded. He thought to himself, "I can't
believe it. People recognize me all the way up here." Then a man came over
to him and said, "Thanks for coming. They won't start the movie for less
than ten people."

Ouch! That'll deflate an ego in a hurry. That's the trouble with
thinking you're somebody important -- not everyone is as convinced of that
as you are! I heard about one man who was hesitant to go on vacation. When
someone at work told him, "Don't worry. We can get by without you here for
a while.", his response was, "I know, I know. I just don't want anybody
else to find that out!"

Humility. One of the most difficult-to-find traits in our society.
And one of the most important traits in the eyes of God. How often we try
to raise our esteem in the eyes of men when we ought to be showing our
willingness to lower ourselves.

"When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in
the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; and he
who invited you and him come and say to you, 'Give place to this man,' and
then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are
invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited
you comes he may say to you, 'Friend, go up higher.' Then you will have
glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. For whoever
exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
(Luke 14:8-11)

Look for an opportunity today to take a "lower seat."

Alan Smith