In the passage from last week, Paul gives the Christians at Philippi a challenging task. He calls for them to be unified and shows that humility is the way to unity. His says in vv. 3-4, “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”Last week I also discussed that the reason this calling is challenging is because selfishness and pride are the most common problems in our lives. Paul knowing this is the case and knowing that good examples of humility are few and far between puts forth the perfect model for them to follow. He says in v. 5, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.” In other words, "Look to Christ and follow His supreme example of humility."
EXPERIENCING JOY THROUGH HUMILITY
I. DON’T THINK TOO HIGHLY OF YOURSELF
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
Paul begins by explaining that Christ has the highest status imaginable. In v. 6 Paul says “although He existed” showing that Christ has always existed even before coming to earth and then he goes on to say “in the form of God” meaning Christ is equal in person to God the Father.
Paul goes on to say that although Christ was equal in nature, essence and form with God, he tells us that Christ refused to selfishly cling to His equality with God.
This doesn’t mean he gave up his authority, title or essence as God, but just means that he did not cling to all the advantages that come with being God. What’s ironic is that Christ who is 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 what he is, refuse.
May we learn to think in this way--If Christ, who is infinitely greater than any thought of us did not consider his status as something to cling to, but instead humbled Himself then so should we.
II. DON’T REFUSE TO SERVE BECAUSE OF STATUS
7 (Christ) made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
Paul says tells us that Christ emptied himself by “taking the form of a servant”—by “being born in the likeness of men.” By becoming a man, Christ did something he did not have to do and took on a role that he did not have to take on.
If this is true of Christ, how much more so should this be true of us? Many often think that being in a certain position of authority means that there are certain areas of service that are beneath that status. Although Christ had every right to stay where he was and cling to all the benefits that accompany His divine status, instead He humbled Himself and came to us in our time of need. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 8:9, "Though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.”
III. BE WILLING TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND FOR OTHERS
And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Paul shows us in this passage that Christ went above and beyond for us. He not only refused to cling to His equality with God and not only emptied himself by taking on flesh, but was also obedient to the point enduring a painful death on a shameful cross. And Paul says to make the point, “If Christ humbled himself to this extent, how much more so should we be willing to humble ourselves?”
Often times, believers are willing to serve others as long as it doesn't cost too much when it comes to ones health and wealth. What they are looking for is a cross that doesn’t cost. God’s word is clear, however, that if we are going to follow Christ’s example, we are going to have to sacrifice.
If the purest of all to ever live could endure betrayal, denial, trial, beating, mockery, crucifixion and the very wrath of God for us, how much more should we be willing to obey God and sacrifice by going the above and beyond for others?
IV. TRUST THAT THERE IS JOY TO BE HAD IN HUMILITY
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Though Jesus humbled himself and put aside divine privileges that were rightfully His and became a servant and was obedient to the point of death on a shameful cross, it is imperative that we rememberhe did not remain in that lowly state. God the Father responds to Christ’s humility by highly exalting Him and by giving Him a name that is above every name. Paul goes on to say that there is also coming a day when every knee is going to bow before Him and every tongue is going to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The message here is clear. Though humility is tough, the joy to be had through it is unmatched. A reoccurring principle throughout Scripture is that God punishes the proud but exalts the humble. Proverbs 3:34 tells us, “(The Lord) mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble.” Christ also says in Matthew 23:11-12, “The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
Are you upset when you don’t feel appreciated for your service or feel as if you get taken advantage of when you put others before yourself? Know that God is pleased with your humility and rest in the fact that God blesses and brings joy to the humble.
