Embracing Humility: The Balance of Confidence in Christ

Today, we gathered to reflect on the tension between humility and confidence in our Christian walk. Life often presents us with situations that aren’t black and white, and the call to humility is one of those areas where we must seek wisdom and discernment. While we are encouraged to be confident in Christ and recognize our God-given gifts, we are also called to think of others more highly than ourselves and to serve rather than be served. This tension is not a flaw in our faith, but an invitation to deeper relationship with God and others.

Jesus’ parable in Luke 14 challenges us to check our egos and resist the urge to seek places of honor. Instead, we are to take the lower seat, allowing God to elevate us in His timing. This is not just about outward actions, but about the posture of our hearts. The Pharisees, with all their knowledge and tradition, struggled with this because they were used to being elevated and depended upon. Yet, Jesus models a different way—one that is not about self-promotion, but about serving others, even when it is thankless or goes unnoticed.

Ecclesiastes reminds us that much of what we strive for in this life is ultimately meaningless “under the sun.” Our achievements, recognition, and even our acts of service can become empty if they are done for the sake of reward or reciprocity. Jesus calls us to invite those who cannot repay us, to give without expecting anything in return, and to find our worth not in what we do, but in who we are as beloved children of God.

Humility is not thinking less of ourselves, but thinking of ourselves less. It is living with the freedom that comes from knowing we have nothing to prove. Our value is not determined by human acknowledgment, but by God’s unchanging love for us. As we walk humbly with God, we are freed to love others generously, to serve without expectation, and to rest in the assurance that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Our lives become a testimony not to our greatness, but to the faithfulness and grace of God.

Key Takeaways

• 1. True humility is a conscious choice to check our egos and resist the desire for recognition. It’s easy to slip into self-promotion, especially when we are gifted or knowledgeable, but Jesus calls us to take the lower seat and let God be the one who elevates us. This posture protects us from pride and keeps our hearts open to serving others, even when it’s uncomfortable. [31:48]
• 2. Much of what we pursue in life—success, recognition, even acts of service—can become meaningless if our motivation is self-centered or transactional. Ecclesiastes teaches us to shift our perspective and focus on what truly matters: our relationship with God and the way we love others. When we let go of the need for earthly rewards, we find deeper purpose and freedom. [40:08]
• 3. Jesus challenges us to serve those who cannot repay us, prioritizing kindness to the overlooked and marginalized. This kind of service is often thankless and goes against our natural desire for reciprocity, but it reflects the heart of Christ. Our calling is to love without strings attached, trusting that God sees and values every act of selfless love. [42:33]
• 4. Humility means accepting that we are not God and do not have to justify or understand every circumstance. Life is full of mysteries and injustices that we cannot explain, but our responsibility is to maintain our character and trust God’s sovereignty. By focusing on our relationship with Jesus and responding with grace, we find peace even when life doesn’t make sense. [45:13]
• 5. We have nothing to prove and nothing to earn in God’s eyes. Our worth is not based on our achievements, service, or the approval of others, but on the unchanging love of Christ. Living in this truth frees us from striving and allows us to walk humbly, confident in our identity as God’s beloved children. [46:55]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [24:45] - Introduction and Final Sunday
• [26:13] - Navigating Life’s Gray Areas
• [26:52] - The Tension of Humility and Confidence
• [27:27] - What Does Humility Look Like?
• [28:33] - Glorifying God and Working with Others
• [29:50] - Jesus at the Pharisee’s House
• [30:37] - Jesus’ Parable of the Banquet
• [31:48] - Point 1: Check Your Ego
• [35:34] - The Pharisees and the Temptation of Elevation
• [38:00] - Serving Like Christ
• [39:10] - Life Moves On Without Us
• [40:08] - Point 2: Everything is Meaningless
• [42:33] - Serving Without Expectation
• [45:13] - Responding to Life’s Injustices
• [45:50] - Point 3: You Have Nothing to Prove
• [46:55] - Our Worth in Christ
• [49:23] - Living for God’s Glory
• [50:23] - The Counter-Cultural Gospel
• [51:45] - Walking Humbly with God
• [54:23] - Closing Prayer and Blessing

Bible Reading

Luke 14:7-14 (ESV) — > Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
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> He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12:13 (ESV) — > Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
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> The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

Micah 6:8 (ESV) — > He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Observation Questions

1. In the parable Jesus tells in Luke 14, what does he say about choosing places of honor at a banquet? What is the outcome for those who exalt themselves versus those who humble themselves? [30:37]
2. According to Ecclesiastes, what does the writer conclude about the things people strive for “under the sun”? [40:08]
3. In Micah 6:8, what three things does God require of us? How does this connect to the idea of humility in the sermon? [51:45]
4. What specific instructions does Jesus give about who to invite to a banquet, and why? [41:20]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus uses the example of a banquet to teach about humility? What is he trying to reveal about the human heart and our desire for recognition? [30:37]
2. The sermon mentions that “humility is not thinking less of ourselves, but thinking of ourselves less.” How does this definition challenge or affirm your previous understanding of humility? [46:55]
3. Ecclesiastes says that much of what we pursue is “meaningless.” How does this perspective help us re-evaluate our motivations for serving or seeking recognition? [40:08]
4. The sermon points out that Jesus calls us to serve those who cannot repay us. Why is this kind of service so difficult, and what does it reveal about our expectations and desires? [42:33]

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenges us to “check our egos” and resist the urge for recognition. Can you think of a recent situation where you wanted to be noticed or praised? How did you respond, and what might you do differently next time? [31:48]
2. Jesus says to invite those who cannot repay us. Is there someone in your life right now who fits this description? What is one practical way you could serve or bless them this week, even if it goes unnoticed? [42:33]
3. The preacher shared about how achievements and recognition can become empty if they are our main motivation. Are there areas in your life where you are striving for approval or reward? How can you shift your focus to serving God and others instead? [40:08]
4. The sermon says, “We have nothing to prove and nothing to earn in God’s eyes.” How does this truth affect the way you approach your work, relationships, or ministry? Are there places where you feel pressure to prove yourself? [46:55]
5. When life feels unfair or doesn’t make sense, the sermon encourages us to “maintain our character and trust God’s sovereignty.” Can you share about a time when you had to trust God even though you didn’t understand your circumstances? What helped you stay grounded? [45:13]
6. The message from Micah 6:8 is to “walk humbly with your God.” What is one specific step you can take this week to walk more humbly with God and with others? [51:45]
7. The sermon says, “Our lives become a testimony not to our greatness, but to the faithfulness and grace of God.” What is one way you can intentionally point others to God’s grace rather than your own achievements? [49:23]