HARD TO BE HUMBLE (Phil 2:1-11)
Dr. Paul Manuel—2004
As a minister, I realize that some of my sermons are more well-received than others. Generally, the more time I have to prepare, the more comfortable I am with the finished product. In any case, people here are very polite and considerate, and I appreciate that. It is not always so for other ministers.
Of all the churches to which Paul wrote, only the one at Philippi seems free of the difficulties that plague other congregations.
I. Because of Jesus' humiliation, we have the opportunity to humble ourselves before others.
Paul opens chapter 2 with...
We are by nature social creatures, and we form groups of various kinds based on some shared background or interest (e.g., Scouts, sports teams, ethnic organizations, families). We are also by nature independent creatures, and our individuality (our ego) sometimes conflicts with our desire and need to cooperate with others. At such moments, we must decide whether what we have in common with others is worth putting their interests before our own or whether we will insist on having our own way.
Being part of a local congregation presents the same challenges. When something is not quite to your liking, your initial response may be to complain. Left unresolved, one complaint can lead to another and, before long, you have a host of reasons to be dissatisfied and sufficient cause to look elsewhere for a church that is more to your liking.
Paul enjoins his readers to set aside whatever differences may exist among them and to concentrate on what they have in common.2 What he lists may not unite people in other groups to which you belong, but in the church they are what should bind you together. Humility enables you to overlook the little that separates Christians and underline the much that unites Christians.
So how does this work? How do you show the kind of humility Paul enjoins? He explains that in the next few verses, describing...
In Phil 2:3 Paul says that we should weigh the motives behind our thoughts and actions. If we can identify the "I want" syndrome, then we might recognize when our actions are tainted with selfishness or empty conceit. To "consider others better than yourselves" does not mean you must regard every Christian as better in quality or ability. Some people can sing better, or cook better, or offer better counsel. If you subjected your strengths to the weaknesses of others, this would soon be a sick congregation. "What Paul means is that [concern] for others must precede concern for ourselves" (Kent 1978 11:122).4
In Phil 2:4 Paul instructs us to be involved in "the interests of others." Do we remember to pray for those in our midst who are hurting? Are we willing to take time from some project of ours to help another with his project? Will we share what God has given us to meet someone else's need? Here, too, a word of caution is in order: Paul says that "you should look...to the interests of others" in addition to your own and not instead of them. If you neglected your own welfare, you would soon become a burden to others.
Nevertheless, when a difference of opinion arises, and you think the Burger King slogan applies in the church.... What is the Burger King slogan? .....Have it your way." Does that apply in the church? ...No. The slogan for the church is, "Have it God's way!" So, when a difference of opinion arises, examine carefully your reasons before taking too strong a stance, lest you find yourself out of step with God. Humility enables you to recognize what God wants when it conflicts with what you want.
"Wait a minute," you say. "Is this appeal for group unity really all that compelling? Maybe a little contrariness strengthens a church. Besides, if I don't stand up for myself, if I don't push my weight around, if I don't tell people what I think, nobody will pay any attention to me." Ah, but Paul is a step ahead, for if this appeal to unity does not motivate you to humility, there is...
In our attempt to understand this, we start with a handicap if we perceive God as a friend...a buddy.6 However close we may feel to Him, we must not forget that He is separate from us.7 God is wholly "other."
Jesus gave up his life on the cross for us, but his sacrifice began much earlier and included other things.
Paul again reaches into his earlier discussion. This time he picks up the noun "humility" from the phrase in Phil 2:3, "in humility consider others better than yourselves," describing what we should do, and he transforms it into a verb in Phil 2:8 to describe what Jesus did: "He humbled himself and became obedient to death," not a natural death of old age, not an easy death in his sleep, not a heroic death in the service of his country, but a cursed "death on the cross." Humility enables you to appreciate that your sacrifice—be it your time or your resources or your plans—could never approach Jesus' sacrifice.
In light of what Jesus has done, Paul's desire that we yield some individuality for the sake of others seems not so demanding. It is, in fact, an opportunity to serve God this way because of Jesus' humiliation for us, and it demonstrates that we are part of His people. We humble ourselves before one another because Jesus humbled himself for us.... If we are still reluctant, there is a second reason to humble ourselves.
II. Because of Jesus' exaltation, we have the responsibility to humble ourselves before him.
For Jesus, this is the result...
People do not submit easily to authority. They want to do their own thing on their own schedule in their own way. Sometimes only the threat of punishment causes them to swallow their pride and submit.
The interstate is almost empty, so you should be able to make good time, especially as you have just joined a small convoy cruising along at 75. Then you see the brake lights of the tractor-trailer in front of you and groan as the convoy slows. Is there an accident, an animal on the road, or a truck with a full load just crawling along? Then you see it, hidden by some bushes but with the unmistakable shape of a radar unit protruding from the door. With everyone else, you swallow your pride and drop to 65.
For most people, out of sight is out of mind. Just as the highway patrolman is not visible, so Jesus is not visible. They do not see Jesus on the throne, so they do not think of him as ruling. It is an assumption they use as an excuse to do as they please, oblivious of the consequences. Humility enables you to restrain your pride and regard your place in God's kingdom.
Whether or not we see Jesus on the throne, he occupies an exalted position. Moreover, because of his absolute power, all creation will experience...
Jesus has yet to assert his authority. For now, he awaits the day of his return, when he will ascend the throne of a restored Israel and rule the world. Most people today do not acknowledge his exaltation. They will not submit until he returns "with power and great glory" (Matt 24:30). At that time, they will have no other option but to accept his authority. It is not so with God's people. Humility enables you to submit now willingly, that which others will do later only grudgingly.17
If the opportunity of serving God because of Jesus' humiliation for us is not incentive enough to humble ourselves, then the responsibility to serve Him because of Jesus' exaltation over us should compel us to humble ourselves. At this point in history, it is voluntary; later, it will be compulsory. Nevertheless, for believers, Jesus has supremacy now. We humble ourselves before the Savior because God exalted him over us. He is our Lord now, so our obligation does not wait for his return.
Paul calls the Philippian believers and us to humility. Sometimes it is not difficult, but other times it is Hard to Be Humble. So he offers two incentives:
A woman leaving the worship service commented to the minister, "I enjoyed your sermon." "Don't thank me. Thank the Lord," he said. "Oh," she replied, "...it wasn't that good." (Adapted from Rowell 1996:88)Such honesty can ensure a minister's humility...or his humiliation. For others, immune to such comments, it may be Hard to Be Humble. Nevertheless, that is what Paul calls the Philippians and us to be in our text this morning.
Of all the churches to which Paul wrote, only the one at Philippi seems free of the difficulties that plague other congregations.
No sharp rebukes of the congregation mar its joyful spirit; no disturbing problems threaten the progress of the church. The warnings [he does issue] are of a cautionary and preventive nature [the kind] that are always in order. (Kent 1978:99)One such exhortation concerns unity in the church, as Paul calls on the believers there to avoid division by exercising humility toward one another. He offers two reasons, based on Jesus' character, why they and we should be humble.1 First...
I. Because of Jesus' humiliation, we have the opportunity to humble ourselves before others.
Paul opens chapter 2 with...
A. The exhortation to humility (Phil 2:1)
As I said, Paul does not seem to be addressing a problem in the Philippian church. The believers there are doing fine in their walk with God, and Paul wants to encourage them along, which he does by stressing the one quality that will keep them united: humility. He does this by appealing to what they have in common....Phil 2:1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,
- Union with the savior,
- Comfort from his love,
- Fellowship with the Spirit,
- Concern (for one another).
We are by nature social creatures, and we form groups of various kinds based on some shared background or interest (e.g., Scouts, sports teams, ethnic organizations, families). We are also by nature independent creatures, and our individuality (our ego) sometimes conflicts with our desire and need to cooperate with others. At such moments, we must decide whether what we have in common with others is worth putting their interests before our own or whether we will insist on having our own way.
Being part of a local congregation presents the same challenges. When something is not quite to your liking, your initial response may be to complain. Left unresolved, one complaint can lead to another and, before long, you have a host of reasons to be dissatisfied and sufficient cause to look elsewhere for a church that is more to your liking.
Paul enjoins his readers to set aside whatever differences may exist among them and to concentrate on what they have in common.2 What he lists may not unite people in other groups to which you belong, but in the church they are what should bind you together. Humility enables you to overlook the little that separates Christians and underline the much that unites Christians.
So how does this work? How do you show the kind of humility Paul enjoins? He explains that in the next few verses, describing...
B. The evidence of humility (Phil 2:2-4)
After putting a little personal obligation on the argument—"make my joy complete"—Paul asserts one main idea in v. 2—"be [...] like-minded" (lit. "think the same thing")—and he hangs several other ideas on it.3 This is an appeal for humility by setting aside the individualism that often causes strife. He calls on the Philippians and us to reign in the "Yes, but I think" attitude in order to hear the thoughts and feelings of others. This notion is contrary to the common attitude in society, because it denies what motivates so much of what people do: the "I want" syndrome. He then expands this idea with more specific instruction.Phil 2:2 ...make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or [empty] conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
In Phil 2:3 Paul says that we should weigh the motives behind our thoughts and actions. If we can identify the "I want" syndrome, then we might recognize when our actions are tainted with selfishness or empty conceit. To "consider others better than yourselves" does not mean you must regard every Christian as better in quality or ability. Some people can sing better, or cook better, or offer better counsel. If you subjected your strengths to the weaknesses of others, this would soon be a sick congregation. "What Paul means is that [concern] for others must precede concern for ourselves" (Kent 1978 11:122).4
In Phil 2:4 Paul instructs us to be involved in "the interests of others." Do we remember to pray for those in our midst who are hurting? Are we willing to take time from some project of ours to help another with his project? Will we share what God has given us to meet someone else's need? Here, too, a word of caution is in order: Paul says that "you should look...to the interests of others" in addition to your own and not instead of them. If you neglected your own welfare, you would soon become a burden to others.
Nevertheless, when a difference of opinion arises, and you think the Burger King slogan applies in the church.... What is the Burger King slogan? .....Have it your way." Does that apply in the church? ...No. The slogan for the church is, "Have it God's way!" So, when a difference of opinion arises, examine carefully your reasons before taking too strong a stance, lest you find yourself out of step with God. Humility enables you to recognize what God wants when it conflicts with what you want.
"Wait a minute," you say. "Is this appeal for group unity really all that compelling? Maybe a little contrariness strengthens a church. Besides, if I don't stand up for myself, if I don't push my weight around, if I don't tell people what I think, nobody will pay any attention to me." Ah, but Paul is a step ahead, for if this appeal to unity does not motivate you to humility, there is...
C. The example of humility (Phil 2:5-8) our Lord provides.
Paul reaches back to his main idea in Phil 2:2—"be [...] like-minded"—and provides it with a model: Be Christ-minded (lit. "think" the way Jesus thought). The popular Christian acronym, WWJD—What Would Jesus Do?—is here, WWJT—What Would Jesus Think? Paul admonishes the Philippians and us to adopt the attitude Jesus displayed in his condescension.Phil 2:5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Phil 2:6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but [emptied] himself...taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!Paul uses two ideas to express the condescension of Jesus, both of which he draws from his previous instruction on humility. The first idea plays on the word "consider". Earlier, Paul said, "in humility consider others better than [or 'ahead of'] yourselves." Now he illustrates how that is to be done, for Jesus did not consider his exalted position as God something to be retained; but gave it up in order to meet our obvious and urgent need. As Paul states elsewhere,
2 Cor 8:9 ...you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.The second idea Paul draws from the previous section plays on the (root of the) word "empty." In Phil 2:3, he said, "Do nothing out of [empty] conceit". Now he explains that Jesus acted with a complete absence of empty conceit when "he emptied himself" to be "made in human likeness."5 What does it mean that Jesus emptied himself? What happened when he took on "the very nature of a servant?"
In our attempt to understand this, we start with a handicap if we perceive God as a friend...a buddy.6 However close we may feel to Him, we must not forget that He is separate from us.7 God is wholly "other."
- He is other than who we are.
- He is other than what we are.
- He is other than when we are.
- He is other than where we are.
- He is other than why we are.
Jesus gave up his life on the cross for us, but his sacrifice began much earlier and included other things.
- First, Jesus gave up his "other" place.
- John refers to him as "the Word" and says that, "In the beginning...the Word was with God,"8 but that he "became flesh and made his dwelling among us"9 (John 1:1, 14).
- Some of you have lived in different places, in this country as well as abroad. No matter where you have been, though, it cannot compare to where God lives. Heaven is an "other" place, surpassing any we might find here. So, once we get to heaven and know the glory of dwelling with God, we will not be inclined to return to our former residence.
- How much less do you think Jesus was inclined to leave his glorious dwelling that he might live with us? ...Yet he did. He gave up his "other" place.
- Second, Jesus gave up his "other" position.
- Paul says that although Jesus is "in very nature God, [he] did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant." From being equal with God the Father, Jesus subordinated himself to God the Father.10
- Most of us, at sometime in our lives, have to work for someone, so we know how difficult it can be to subjugate our will to another's will, to do what someone else wants instead of what we want. It is even more difficult when the task involves a demotion, not due to any lack of ability on our part, but simply because someone has to be in charge...and we are not that person.
- Jesus surrendered his equal partnership with God the Father to accomplish the task of our redemption. He gave up his "other" position.
- Third, Jesus gave up several of his "other" powers.
- When he was "made in human likeness," Jesus took on certain limitations. He restricted himself in time and space—the creator became part of the creation when he entered the world through birth as we do. He also restricted his ability to act as God would act. There were things he did not know, challenges he could not face without growing weary, hungry, or thirsty.11
- We run up against these limitations all the time, but he had none of them before the incarnation. It is as if we were to restrict an ability we had used all our life. Think of something you enjoy and do well, then consider what it would be like to give it up. You would miss it. It is part of what makes you who you are.
In these ways, Jesus emptied himself, setting aside the prerogatives of deity when he condescended to become man. He who was "other," gave up his "other" place, his "other" position, and his "other" powers.13 Nevertheless, it did not stop there, because the plan to which he subjected himself called for his total humiliation.
- That is what Jesus did many times over.12 He gave up his "other" powers.
Paul again reaches into his earlier discussion. This time he picks up the noun "humility" from the phrase in Phil 2:3, "in humility consider others better than yourselves," describing what we should do, and he transforms it into a verb in Phil 2:8 to describe what Jesus did: "He humbled himself and became obedient to death," not a natural death of old age, not an easy death in his sleep, not a heroic death in the service of his country, but a cursed "death on the cross." Humility enables you to appreciate that your sacrifice—be it your time or your resources or your plans—could never approach Jesus' sacrifice.
In light of what Jesus has done, Paul's desire that we yield some individuality for the sake of others seems not so demanding. It is, in fact, an opportunity to serve God this way because of Jesus' humiliation for us, and it demonstrates that we are part of His people. We humble ourselves before one another because Jesus humbled himself for us.... If we are still reluctant, there is a second reason to humble ourselves.
II. Because of Jesus' exaltation, we have the responsibility to humble ourselves before him.
For Jesus, this is the result...
A. The end of humility (Phil 2:9)
Paul abruptly shifts here from humiliation to exaltation, and we may wonder how one follows the other. Yet this is precisely what he says. For Jesus, it is the end, the result of his humility: He humbled himself completely, therefore God exalted him completely.14 Jesus' exaltation is to preeminence in God's program, as is evident in the superlatives Paul uses. Jesus has "the highest place" in God's kingdom. This means he has absolute authority. No one can overrule him, and no one can overthrow Him.15Phil 2:9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
People do not submit easily to authority. They want to do their own thing on their own schedule in their own way. Sometimes only the threat of punishment causes them to swallow their pride and submit.
The interstate is almost empty, so you should be able to make good time, especially as you have just joined a small convoy cruising along at 75. Then you see the brake lights of the tractor-trailer in front of you and groan as the convoy slows. Is there an accident, an animal on the road, or a truck with a full load just crawling along? Then you see it, hidden by some bushes but with the unmistakable shape of a radar unit protruding from the door. With everyone else, you swallow your pride and drop to 65.
For most people, out of sight is out of mind. Just as the highway patrolman is not visible, so Jesus is not visible. They do not see Jesus on the throne, so they do not think of him as ruling. It is an assumption they use as an excuse to do as they please, oblivious of the consequences. Humility enables you to restrain your pride and regard your place in God's kingdom.
Whether or not we see Jesus on the throne, he occupies an exalted position. Moreover, because of his absolute power, all creation will experience...
B. The enforcement of humility (Phil 2:10-11)
Candidates running for public office often struggle for something called "name recognition." The idea is that even if voters do not know anything about them or their position on the issues, people are more likely to cast their ballot for a familiar name than they are for an unfamiliar one. When Jesus returns to reign, he will not struggle for name recognition, and he will not have to persuade a single person to vote for him. God will give him "the name...above every name"—a reference to his exalted character and reputation—so that all people will recognize him and acknowledge his authority.16Phil 2:10 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.
Jesus has yet to assert his authority. For now, he awaits the day of his return, when he will ascend the throne of a restored Israel and rule the world. Most people today do not acknowledge his exaltation. They will not submit until he returns "with power and great glory" (Matt 24:30). At that time, they will have no other option but to accept his authority. It is not so with God's people. Humility enables you to submit now willingly, that which others will do later only grudgingly.17
If the opportunity of serving God because of Jesus' humiliation for us is not incentive enough to humble ourselves, then the responsibility to serve Him because of Jesus' exaltation over us should compel us to humble ourselves. At this point in history, it is voluntary; later, it will be compulsory. Nevertheless, for believers, Jesus has supremacy now. We humble ourselves before the Savior because God exalted him over us. He is our Lord now, so our obligation does not wait for his return.
Paul calls the Philippian believers and us to humility. Sometimes it is not difficult, but other times it is Hard to Be Humble. So he offers two incentives:
- Because of Jesus' humiliation, we have the opportunity to humble ourselves before others.
- Because of Jesus' exaltation, we have the responsibility to humble ourselves before him.
For a pdf including Bibliography and Endnotes see here.
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Jim Skaggs