Has A Different Mindset

The Humble Mindset of Christ & Christians

10.1.23 [Philippians 2:1-11] River of Life (19th Sunday after Pentecost)

Have you ever met someone famous? Many have had brushes with big stars. It might be that A-list actor who just happened to be sitting on the other side of the mom-and-pop restaurant. Or a meet and greet with mega-watt musician or an autograph from some athlete. Perhaps you just happened to be on a flight with a prominent politician or the local news anchor interviewed you for a story. There’s something cool about a celebrity encounter.

When you meet someone famous, it’s hard to keep it a secret. You probably told as many people as would listen “who” you just met.

But you’ve also been on the other side. A friend has an encounter with someone famous. And they’re always excited. But you’re not. Maybe you don’t recognize the name. Maybe they aren’t remarkable to you. It doesn’t seem like it should be a big deal. Even so, you’re still impressed when they say: So-and-so was just so down to earth!

It’s amazing how that little detail changes the whole story. It’s fascinating when famous people are personable and humble. A story like that can change our opinion about a famous person just like that. Actors and athletes we previously didn’t know the first thing about suddenly become really important to us when we meet them—or just know someone who did—and they were down to earth. You’re more likely to vote for that politician or tune into that local anchor’s show. Their humility changes how we see them. Humility is attractive.

In Philippians 2, Paul highlights Jesus and his humble nature. But while Jesus is famous, his humble nature does more. Jesus’ humble nature doesn’t just change how we see him. It changes how we see ourselves. It changes how we see others. It changes how we see everyone around us. Life-changing humility comes from heaven.

Philippians is a rather short letter from Paul, soaked with joy. Despite being (Php. 1:7) in chains for the Gospel while he wrote this letter, Paul encourages them (Php. 4:4) Rejoice in the Lord always.

The Philippians were glad to rejoice with Paul. (Php. 4:14) They were concerned about Paul. They were praying for him. They had even sent one of their own to visit Paul in prison and bring him some gifts. But they were eager to rejoice with Paul and have him remind them of their joy.

The Philippians were generous. They were compassionate. They were thoughtful and prayerful people. But they weren’t perfect. Paul learned there was a disagreement between two people in the congregation. What the issue was exactly, we don’t know. But Paul wanted them to be (Php. 2:2) united in love, spirit, & mind. That would make (Php. 2:2) his joy complete. So look at how he does that. He surely knew what the issues were. But he didn’t take sides. He didn’t tell them they’re both right and wrong. He lays before them all God’s call to humility.

(Php. 2:3-4) Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather in humility, value others above yourselves. Don’t look to your own interests but to the interests of others. Humility is attractive. Pride is repulsive. But even if we do not think of ourselves as prideful or arrogant people, it’s hard not to change your mind when you compare your thoughts, your words, and your actions to this standard.

We might be able to rattle off a list of people we consider to be really selfish or prideful, but being better than them is not the standard. (Php. 2:3) Do nothing out of selfish ambition. Don’t do anything based on what it might get you. This command cuts two ways.

First, in the negative sense, God is telling us not to avoid wrongdoing because it is going to bring us suffering. How often do you steer clear of things that are clearly sinful mostly—or even partially—because of their likely consequences? How often are you truthful simply because you don’t want to get caught in a lie, or don’t want to be thought of as a dishonest person? How many times have you bit your tongue when you were angry because you don’t want to lose your job, a friendship, or ruin your reputation? That’s selfish ambition.

Then there’s the more positive-seeming side. How many times do you do the right thing primarily because you expect to be rewarded?

We work hard because we expect to be recognized and promoted. We love our friends and make sacrifices for our families because we expect them to have our back when we need it or we like how it makes us feel. We may even read our Bibles and pray regularly thinking that that will keep us in the good graces of the man upstairs.

(Php. 2:3) Do nothing out of…vain conceit. If what we say and what we do is prompted by what other people may think or say about us, we are spiritually empty. If we keep a tight rein on your tongue, simply to look better in polite society, we are doing right for the wrong reasons. If we work hard only when other people are watching, we are not glorifying God. If we are generous, but only because we don’t want to look cheap, we are not pleasing our Lord. If we forgive someone only so we don’t look like a petty jerk, we are deceiving ourselves.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. If what we will get or what people with think about us is our motivation, God sees that and he is not impressed. Our righteous acts are filthy rags.

But true humility is more than just not being selfish or conceited. True humility is changing how you see yourself and everyone around you.

We can try to channel our ambition to be less selfish. We can try to be less influenced by what other people think about us. But true humility isn’t created by extinguishing our selfishness or conceit. True humility must come from heaven. So Paul lays before us Christ’s humility. Only Christ’s humility is powerful enough to change how we see God, how we see ourselves, and how we see everyone else.

He writes, (Php. 2:5) in your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. Jesus never thought of himself as above anyone else. Even though he was tasked with the most important assignment in history, he never acted as if he was the most important person in the room. He was never too busy to explain the same truths of God to the same people again and again. He was never too worried about his reputation to sit down and talk with tax collectors, prostitutes, lonely people, and suffering folks. Even when his disciples thought he shouldn’t be bothered, he went out of his way to serve others. He blessed the little children. He healed the daughter of the Canaanite woman. Despite being the Son of God, Jesus came (Mk 10:45) to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. Only Christ’s humility can change us so radically.

Paul reminds us of who Jesus has always been. Jesus is God. All the honor, power, and glory of being God were always his. But he set that aside, for a time, to become our (Php. 2:7) servant. The One who made everything was made man. He was born to a humble, working-class family. He had an unexciting childhood. He lived in a podunk town for most of his time on earth. He had no beauty, no majesty, nothing that made him look or sound special. When he finally left Nazareth, he didn’t move into a palace in the big city. He had no place to call his own.

Though he had miraculous power at his disposal, he never used to it make himself more comfortable or beloved. Though he had legions of angels at his beck & call, he never used them to make his life easier or alleviate his suffering. He never looked to his own interests but always to ours.

Though he taught with authority, he didn’t spend much time with the movers and the shakers of his time. Though the crowds flocked to him at first, he didn’t let that popularity change him. In fact, he said tough true things that made people turn their backs on him.

His life was geared toward Golgotha. He came for Calvary’s cross. He lived under the law perfectly so that wicked sinners might be atoned for. God became man, a despised man, a convicted criminal, a laughing stock so that we might be loved by God, redeemed from all unrighteousness, the joy of our heavenly Father.

That humble Jesus has been glorified. He has conquered sin, death, and the devil because he was looking to our interests. He defeated our enemies. He has made us more than conquerors. Now, he has been restored to the honor, power, and glory that were always his. His enemies are being made his footstool. Yet, he is still concerned about you.

He listens to your prayers. He serves as your Advocate. He sits at the right hand of the Father and intercedes for sinners like you and me. Even after doing everything necessary for our salvation, he is still looking to your interests. Despite all your failings and shortcomings, he is not ashamed to call you his brother or sister. He commands his angels concerning you, to minister to you.

Think about that for just a second. Angels are greater than all of us. They are wiser, more powerful, and more faithful. Yet they are sent by God to minister to us. To help keep us safe. To protect us against the devil. One day, the angels will carry our souls to heaven. Why do they do these things for us? Because of Christ.

Christ’s humility and love change everything. It changes how we see God, ourselves, and everyone else. Meeting Jesus changes us more than a chance encounter with a celebrity. When someone meets a famous star, it’s amazing how often it just comes up in conversation. You know someone more important than anyone else ever. So why do we keep it such a secret? Why don’t we tell everyone about the most powerful, most wise, most down-to-earth humble Son of Man we know? We can. We should. And God tells us how we should do it.

By words and actions. By being united with fellow believers and being humble servants to everyone else we encounter. Doing the right thing not because we will be rewarded. Doing the righteous things not because people will be impressed. But living this way because of the Christ who has been exalted to the highest place. That will make our joy and God’s complete. Amen.