#WISDOMSample

Which Seat is Yours?

Social structures fascinate me. It doesn’t matter whether it is employees in the workplace or teenage girls in high school, as humans, we are always trying to determine the pecking order of who is most important.

Most of the time that pecking order comes down to something as simple and elementary as where one sits. I guess we really did learn all we needed to learn about life from when we were in kindergarten.

In today’s reading of Proverbs 25, Solomon talks a good deal about how to approach the social order with humility and dignity. I think his best advice for today comes from Proverbs 25:6-7 where he says, “Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence, and do not claim a place among his great men; it is better for him to say to you, ‘Come up here,’ than for him to humiliate you before his nobles.” I think this is really good advice because Jesus said something similar when he was at a dinner party.

In Luke 14:10-11, Jesus gives this great advice that echoes the words of Solomon. Jesus says, “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.”

If something is repeated by both the wisest guy ever to live (Solomon) and the person who was the complete embodiment of wisdom (Jesus), then you know it must be pretty wise and sound advice.

The reason I think that both Solomon and Jesus would address this is because they both wanted us to know something foundational for our identity. I think they would want us to know, “What we do and how others view us does not determine who we are … only God determines who we are.” If we allow our identity to be given to us by God, then it doesn’t matter where we might rank in our social order because we already know we are loved and accepted by the only one who really matters.

After you read today’s chapter of Proverbs, try spending some time meditating and praying about the reality that we get our identity from God. If you would like a place to start, try praying this prayer:

Father, thank you for creating me in your image. I’m sorry for the ways I have lived outside your plan and design for my life. I invite you to redeem my life and identity to your will. Please help me see that my worth does not come from what I do or what other people think of me. Rather, I am who I am because you love me and accept me as your own. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.