Luke 14:10-11–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.  11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” 

One of the things I think we naturally adopt from society, is the leverage we place on our “credentials”.  Whether that is in our profession or families, we generally presume that having more “credentials” should put us naturally at a place of prominence and not humility.  
For example if we have been doing a profession for quite some time, we believe our experience and knowledge should make us a prime candidate for a job/promotion.  Or being a parent, mentor, or older sibling we presume we are to always give advice, so we presume a position of prominence generally.  Possibly leaving no room to learn something from someone in a “less prominent” position… 
In contrast, when we come to a place of unfamiliarity or less knowledge than another in life, we take a place of humility.  But if this is our posture throughout life, then situations are naturally dictating how we deal with life and others.  Which is clear when we see people in prominent positions, present themselves in the “pomp” of their credentials, and not the humility of Christ…(Philippians 2:3)
Jesus was teaching how we should not presume ourselves important, which is in complete reverse of our “self-esteem movement”.  The genius behind our Lord’s teaching, is that it is hard to be offended when you already see yourself as lowly.  The more pride-filled and egotistical we are, the more offended we are.  Because we can live presuming that we should have the “prominent seat” in everything, because we are living off our credentials, which God could care less about…
The wisdom that God gives us as we live in this world in gaining our credentials, whether it’s through education, job experience, years of parenting, etc. is to not let it define who we are before Him and others.  If we are constantly offended, than we are sitting in the seat of presumption, assuming we are to be exalted all the time.  Which is naturally bent towards pride and self-exaltation, and is not “open” to living in a place of humility/true worship, where God determines if and when He will exalt us. (James 4:10,1 Peter 5:5-8)
In His Love, Ld