Seek to Edify

WHO SHOULD WE SEEK TO EDIFY?

SHOULD CHRISTIANS SEEK TO EDIFY THEMSELVES?

THE LAST SHALL BE FIRST THE FIRST SHALL BE LAST

HE WHO HUMBLES HIMSELF WILL BE EXALTED

THE LAST SHALL BE FIRST THE FIRST SHALL BE LAST

MATT 19:30; 20:1-16
But many who are first will be last, and the last
first. "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who
went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his
vineyard. "Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a
denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
"And he went out about the third hour and saw others
standing idle in the marketplace, "and said to them, 'You
also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give
you.' And they went.
"Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth
hour, and did likewise. "And about the eleventh hour he went
out and found others standing idle, and said to them, 'Why
have you been standing here idle all day?' "They said to
him, 'Because no one hired us.' He said to them, 'You also
go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will
receive.'
"So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard
said to his steward, 'Call the laborers and give them their
wages, beginning with the last to the first.' "And when
those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each
received a denarius. "But when the first came, they supposed
that thay would receive more; and they likewise received
each a denarius.
"And when they had received it, they murmered
against the landowner, saying, 'These last men have worked
only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne
the burden and the heat of the day.' "But he answered one of
them and said, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not
agree with me for a denarius?
'Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give
to this last man the same as to you.
'Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my
own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?'
"So the last will be first, and the first last. For
many are called, but few chosen."

MARK 10:31    But many that are first will be last, and the
last first.

LUKE 13:30    And behold, some are last who will be first,
and some are first who will be last.

LUKE 9:48     for he who is least among you all is the one
who is great.

LUKE 7:28
"For I say to you, among those born of women there
is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who
is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."

HE WHO HUMBLES HIMSELF WILL BE EXALTED

MATT 18:4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this
little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

MATT 23:12 whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and
whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

LUKE 14:7-11So He told a parable to those who were
invited, when He noted how they chose the best places,
saying to them: "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 18:9-14 Also He spoke this parable to some who
trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised
others: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a
Pharisee and the other a tax collector. "The Pharisee stood
and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am
not like other men - extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or
even as this tax collector. 'I fast twice a week; I give
tithes of all that I possess.' "And the tax collector,
standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to
heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God be merciful to me
a sinner!' "I tell you, this man went down to his house
justified rather than the other; for every one who exalts
himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be
exalted.

1PETER 5:5-6Likewise you younger people, submit
yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to
one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists
the proud, But gives grace to the humble." Therefore humble
yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt
you in due time.

The Basics

KentWilken@aol.com RachWilken@aol.com

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