Homely Humility

Title: Homely Humility

Text: Philippians 2:5-11

D.T How do we eagerly engage others with humility

Introduction: Today we continue in our “Welcome Home” theme, the goal of which is to become known for being a welcome home. Last week we started looking at the specific characteristics that make up a welcome home, things we need to have if we want to become known for being a welcome home. These characteristics are load bearing, they are pillars upon which a welcome home is built. Last week we discussed the first pillar that makes up a welcome home, that was unity. Specifically being unified in purpose and attitude. Today we discuss the next pillar, humility. If we want to be known as a welcome home within the community, we must be humble. The idea of being humble so others will feel welcome in our presence is not a new idea. Companies and organizations realize that having a staff that is humble is key in making customers feel welcome. Many companies strive for this idea of humility among their staff. However few are able to pull it off as well as one company. Chick-fil-a. It seems like any person who tells a story about encountering a humble and servant-hearted employee, the employer of that person is always Chick-fil-a. I am no exception to this rule.

ILLUSTRATION: Chick-fil-a story

I felt extremely welcome at this particular Chick-Fil-a because of the humility of it’s employees. However, their humility wasn’t passive. They weren’t just humble after I had approached them. This Chick-fil-a employee was eagerly searching for ways to show humility to approaching customers.

How do we recreate the eager humility shown by the Chick-Fil-a employee? How do we be intentional and proactive in treating others with such humility? How do we eagerly engage others with humility

The best answer to this question is found in Philippians chapter 2

READ Philippians 2:5-11

Philippians 2:5–11 ESV

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, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

This passage is wonderful and unique for the same reason, it’s perspective. Every gospel is told from the perspective of a disciple. However in this passage we get the perspective from Jesus point of view. The clear point of view of Jesus comes into focus the more we read. Jesus approached his mission with a perspective of humility. Within this passage we see three characteristics of humility, adopting these within ourselves will help us approach humility with an eager and proactive attitude.

Humility disregards entitlement In verse 6 we are told that Christ did not consider equality with God something to be grasped. What does this mean? The most logical answer seems to do with entitlement. Jesus did not allow himself to grasp and dwell on the entitlement his deity bought him.

In 2001 a movie by the name of “Bruce Almighty” was released. You may have seen this movie. It would be a stretch to say this movie is theologically accurate. However it does make one good point I’d like to draw attention towards. In this movie Bruce is given the powers of God. Once he is able to grasp the nature of his new powers, he is FAR from humble. In fact he abuses his new found powers for selfish gain.

The point the movie makes is this, humanity would abuse the powers of God if given the chance.

Jesus realized Satan would attempt to use his humanity to abuse the power of God. (Temptation in the desert) so Jesus did not allow himself to dwell on his powers. This would keep him rooted in humility.

Jesus disregarded his entitlement as being very nature God. This doesn’t mean he left this entitlement behind. This doesn’t mean he didn’t use the powers his entitlement of deity bought him. Instead he chose to ignore the status and advantages his entitlement bought him.

We may have entitlements (Status, money, skill, resources) if we want to be humble, we must disregard these entitlements. Disregarding entitlement simply means we don’t allow any entitlements to change the way we treat people. This doesn’t mean leave them behind. This doesn’t mean we don’t use them.

Humility serves others Why is it that Chick-fil-a finds such servant-hearted people? Do they have means or methods in picking these people out? No. Instead they shape people to be servant hearted. It starts within the culture of the organization, a culture shaped from the top down, starting with its founder Truit Cathy. The culture of humility within churches should be attainable because its creator and founder is one that is servant hearted. Jesus took on the form of a servant for our sake. Are we passing that humility down, as Chick-fil-a does? Do we display a willingness to serve others? Can we be considered welcoming if we don’t?

Humility subjects itself to the needs of others Jesus was obedient to the cross not because he wanted to die on our behalf. The garden of Gethsemane testifies to this truth. However Jesus was obedient to the cross because we needed him to be obedient. If we want to be humble, we must recognize need, and be willing to be obedient to that need.

Conclusion: In Micah 6:6-8 we read these passages which describe man trying to figure out how he should approach God? With offerings? With sacrifice? With riches? The writer then answers the question. Micah 6:8

Micah 6:8 ESV

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

In Philippians we are shown that Christ approached his mission with a mindset of humility. In Micah we learn that God himself tells us to approach him with humility. This is why engaging others with humility is more than an obligation. It’s how we are instructed to live our lives by God himself, should we not seek to do that eagerly? The whole reason we are discussing humility is because we want God’s dwelling place to be seen as a welcome home. Should we not do that with eager enthusiasm? Should we not do that with the same eager enthusiasm as a small, wirey teenager working at chick-fil-a? Then let us learn from his example, and go and do likewise.