Exalted Vs. Humbled

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. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 'Give this man your seat.' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 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 your fellow guests. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Luke14:7-11

so this is my confession: i don't especially get into the Gospel books. when the disciples were complaining to Jesus about always speaking in parables... i'm standing right there with them. see matthew 13 for Jesus's responds... insert knife in the heart, then twist!

so i'm trying to be proactive in reading the gospels. it's a challenge... partly cuz i stink at literature, poetry and abstract thinking. but grammar rocks! anyways...

this passage about taking a lesser seat so the host may offer you a better seat... what else can this relate to? how about asking for a raise? should we not ask for a raise, but instead wait for our boss to offer one? or how about backseat middle? (that's my favorite seat in the car!) does that have the same meaning? (i'm really trying to think outside of the box - it's hurting my brain.)

Jesus,
forgive me for being so ignorant. too often your parables seem like nice stories, but i struggle to relate them to my life. i begging You to teach me to think more like You. help me to understand - to hear and see and understand. i want to learn more about You - why You said what You said, and did what You did.
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen
*Shottie *Karen & Paul *Derrick