Philippians 2:1–11: Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Here, this passage we get four characteristics oof the Christlike attitude for us to emulate:
Jesus Thinks of Others, Not Himself (2:5–6)
The “mindset” of Christ means the “attitude” Christ exhibited.
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:5 NIV 1984).
Outlook determines outcome. If the outlook is selfish, the actions will be divisive and destructive. James said the same thing (James 4:1–10).
Philippians 2:6 states an amazing fact: He did not did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage. Some versions say, He did not consider equality with God something to be grasped!
He held his position loosely. So much damage is done in church by people who hold onto their positions, ministry, title, or status tightly.
Illustrate: three volunteers who like chocolate. Give each one a Mars Bar. First person to really grip it, even when I want to take it away. Damage is done by grasping onto something. Show the three the advantage of holding things with an open hand - God can take something away, or add something more, or add something bigger.
Luke 16:10: “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much…
Why do we grasp at things? Identity, insecurity, even jealousy of others, our pride.
Holding things lightly is not weakness or lack of diligence. It shows trust in Jesus. You see, the ministry you have is not yours at all. It is the ministry of Jesus expressed through you. He who is higher than you became lower than you, the lowest servant, to rescue and redeem you.
Jesus attitude was that of unselfish concern for others. This is “the mind of Christ,” or “attitude” that says, “I cannot keep my privileges for myself, I must use them for others; and to do this, I will gladly lay them aside and pay whatever price is necessary.”
If you want to know the measure of someone don’t give them responsibilities - give them privileges. Most people can handle responsibilities, but it takes a real leader to handle privileges. A leader will use their privileges to help others and build the organization; a lesser person will use privileges to promote themself.
Jesus used His heavenly privileges for the sake of others—for our sake.
Jesus Serves Others, Not Himself (2:7)
Thinking of “others” in an abstract sense only is insufficient; we must get down to the nitty-gritty of true service.
Jesus thought of others and became a servant! Paul traced the steps in what theologians call the humiliation of Christ:
- He emptied Himself, laying aside the independent use of His own attributes as God;
- He permanently became a human, in a sinless physical body;
- He used that body to be a servant;
- He took that body to the cross and willingly died.
What grace! From heaven to earth, from glory to shame, from Master to servant, from life to death, “even the death of the cross!”
We need to see this in contrast to what Jesus had - He had everything! He made everything! He had the adulation and worship of all creation. He gave all that up to become lower than any of us would want to go.
Jesus did not pretend to be a servant; He was not an actor playing a role. He actually was a servant!
This was the true expression of His innermost nature. He was the God-Man, Deity and humanity united in one, and He came as a servant.
Have you noticed as you read the four gospels that it is Jesus who serves others, not others who serve Jesus? He is constantly serving of all kinds of people—fishermen, prostitutes, tax collectors, the sick, the grieving.
Matthew 20:28:… just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
In the upper room, when His disciples apparently refused to minister, Jesus arose, laid aside His outer garments, put on the long linen towel, and washed their feet (John 13)!
He took the place of a menial slave!
In the Kingdom it is never the size of your title but the size of your towel that is going to really count.
Jesus Sacrifices for Others (2:8)
Many people are willing to serve others if it does not cost them anything. But if there is a price to pay, they suddenly lose interest.
Jesus “by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Phil. 2:8).
His was not the death of a martyr but the death of a Saviour. He willingly laid down His life for the sins of the world.
Dr. J. H. Jowett said, “Ministry that costs nothing accomplishes nothing.”
If there is to be any blessing, there must be some “bleeding.”
Christians do not avoid sacrifice. They live for the glory of God and the good of others, and if paying a price will honour Christ and help others, they are willing to do it.
This was Paul’s attitude, as well as Timothy’s and Epaphroditus’s - who even risked his life in serving others (Phil. 2:17; 20; 30).
Sacrifice and service go together if service is to be true Christian ministry. People will often want a title, a platform and recognition. They are not prepared to serve, both in the church and outside of it. They are focussed on spiritual promotion for themselves not lifting others up. They are ‘work shy.’
One of my son’s and daughter-in-laws work for the same company. They are both leading others. When we meet up they regale us with the stories of individuals who they have had to discipline for work avoidance. When a team member actively avoids their work, it puts pressure on the other team members to make their combined targets. It seems endemic in their company.
Sadly, it’s endemic in the almost every local church, including ANCC! Since starting here in January, many people have said many positive things about the church. The one thing negative thing that is commonly repeated is lack of volunteers. As the church has grown, so has the need for volunteers. But there is sadly a culture of service-avoidance. I’m so encouraged by those who do volunteer and am grateful for those. We must up our game though.
The test of Christian is not just how much we are willing to take in terms of suffering, but how much we are willing to give in terms of sacrifice.
It is one of the paradoxes of the Christian life that the more we give, the more we receive; the more we sacrifice, the more God blesses.
Is it costing you anything to be a Christian?
Jesus Glorifies God (2:9–11)
This, of course, is the great goal of all that we do—to glorify God.
Paul warns us against wrong motives in Philippians 2:3: Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.
Jesus humbled Himself for others, and God highly exalted Him; and the result of this exaltation is glory to God.
The whole purpose of Christ’s life on earth, death, resurrection and ascension is the glory of God.
Philippians 2:11: and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
- As Jesus faced the cross, the glory of the Father was uppermost in His mind: John 17:1: Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.
- He has given this glory to us: John 17:22: I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—,
- But that glory is not for us! One day we shall share it with Him in heaven: John 17:24: Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world (see Rom. 8:28–30). There is a future glory, a glory which permeates all of heaven and creation and we will share in it. But it is not our glory - it is the glory of God that we reflect back to Him!
Our salvation has as its ultimate purpose the glory of God (Ephesians 1:6; 12; 14).
Wrapping this up:
Christians, as they live for others, must expect sacrifice and service; but in the end, it is going to lead to glory.
1 Peter 5:6: Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
So, to be more Christlike:
- Think of others, not yourself,
- Serve others, not yourself,
- Sacrifice for others, not yourself,
- and your life will Glorify God.
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