Though we hate to admit it, we have a tendency to think of
ourselves as being more important than we really are. A while back I read a slogan for a certain
type of insurance that read, “For the most important person in the world…you.” We are constantly being exposed to these
types of messages and think of ourselves in this way.
Though the Bible is clear that we are special in so far as
we are created in God’s image, Scripture is also clear that we are not nearly
as great and as important as we think we are.
We need to have a correct view of ourselves, and in Philippians 2, Paul
puts things in perspective for us. He
says in vv. 5-6,
Have this mind among
yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of
God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped.
Paul explains in this passage that Christ has the highest
status in all existence—He is God. In v.
6, the NASB says although he
existed. Paul is speaking of a time
before Christ came to earth, which tells us that Christ is eternal—he has
always existed. Paul goes on to say, in the form of God, meaning Christ is divine. What Paul is saying here is, “Before coming
to earth and before taking on flesh Christ existed as the eternal Son of God
equal in person with God the Father.”
Yet, though that’s the case—though he was equal in nature,
essence and form with God, Paul tells us that Christ refused to selfishly cling
to his equality with God. Instead, he tells us he emptied himself by becoming one of us. Now this does not mean he gave up his authority or his title or his essence as God.
It just means that he did not cling to all the advantages that come with
being God. Now what’s ironic about this
is that Christ who is in the very nature, form and essence of God who could
have clung tightly to the advantages of being God, chose to humble himself,
while we, who are not even close to being in the position he is in, refuse.
Paul wants his readers to realize that if Christ, who is
infinitely greater than us did not consider his status as something to cling to
then neither should we. If he humbled
himself for us, how much more so should we for others?
To hear more from Philippians 2:5-11, click HERE and listen to
WE ARE ALL ABOUT SERVING.
