Rather than being esteemed by people ...

When you are invited 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 person 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 the other guests

(Luke 14:7-10).

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,

and he who humbles himself will be exalted (v. 11).

Let us strive not to exalt ourselves before people,

but to humble ourselves in the Lord.

Being esteemed by the Lord is far better than being esteemed by people.