The Cost Of Humility | Philippians 2:5-11

Opening Remarks:

Two Sunday nights ago we looked at Philippians 2 with a focus on the need for God’s people to have the Mind of Christ.

There were issues of conflict taking place in the church at Philippi.

That can happen in a church family. Pride causes contention. Small things rub us the wrong way. Tension rises. Problems occur.

So Paul tells this otherwise excellent church that a good dose of humility is needed to operate in a way that pleases God.

And the best way to be humble is to look to our ultimate example of humility — Jesus Christ.

Humility comes as we Embrace the Mind of Christ.

Paul tells them to be likeminded and to be unified in Spirit.

And then Paul gives them the Reason for humility - Because was Jesus Christ was willingly humble for us.

I. He was incarnated.

Incarnate means “in the flesh.”

Jesus had a human body. 100% God, 100% man.

He voluntarily left Heaven to take on flesh.

There’s no greater example of lowering one’s self than Jesus Christ becoming flesh.

That is the ultimate example of humiliation. More than if you or I chose to become a slug.

Vs. 6 - Jesus was in the form of God, but He took upon Him the form of a servant, according to verse 7.

Can you imagine trading the form of God for the form of an average man?

Vs. 8 - “Being found in fashion as a man” means if you looked at Jesus, you would not have thought, “That’s God.” He was an average man.

He didn’t have a superhero build. There was little about Him physically that would have impressed anyone.

He had a body that felt what we feel. He got tired. He got hungry.

He didn’t get rid of His divine nature, but He added human nature to it. He was just like us, yet without sin.

“He thought it not robbery to be equal with God.” Which means He didn’t hold onto His position when it was time to come to earth.

That’s the humility of the mind of Christ.

II. He died for us.

You talk about humility.

Not only did Jesus come to die. He came to die the most humiliating and painful death. Crucifixion was an awful way to die.

So Jesus went from the highest of highs in heaven to the lowest depths in death.

From glory to humiliation.

That’s the humility of the mind of Christ.

III. And when we consider His incarnation and death, it should impact how we treat each other.

In a world of self-promotion and self-love, Jesus operated put others first.

We all know this is true - if you want healthy relationships with others, humility has to be there.

No one enjoys being around people that selfish.

Illustration: We’ve just come through another political season, and it was as ugly as it’s ever been.

The constant attacks. The lies. The twisting of words. The name calling.

Few things are uglier than a political season in the US. It’s grieving.

And the irony is as soon as the election is over, everyone is saying, “Unity! We need peace and togetherness! Unify!”

But they’ve spent months absolutely destroying each other without holding back. Calling each other the worst names, taking every statement out of context, attacking character, attacking their families. And now suddenly everyone is supposed to be friends?

This season has been a reminder of the need for humility. Without it, life just gets ugly.

And the truth is, they want a healthy relationship between parties and ideologies, but until humility takes place on both sides, that’s not going to happen.

You can’t have a healthy relationship without humility. Pride and self-promotion destroy every relationship.

If anyone could have demanded honor and promotion, it was Jesus. But He didn’t.

In fact, He did the opposite. Left Heaven. Born in the flesh. Lowered Himself. Died for sinners.

There’s no greater motivation to be humble than to consider that Christ humbled Himself for us.

The best way to be humble toward others is to remember that Jesus was humble toward us.

We’re sinners and He’s not.

He deserves to be worshipped and He was humble.

I deserve eternity in hell. How can I not be humble?

If Christ is willing to forgive me when I’m wrong, I should forgive others when they are.

If He’s patient with me when I fail, I should be patient when someone else does.

If He can treat me with love and kindness in spite of who I am, surely I can do the same for someone else.

Humility starts by remembering what Christ did for us. Humility is lived out by treating others with humility.

To lower ourselves. To meet others’ needs.

To die to our desires and serve other people.

That’s what Christ did for us. And that’s what He expects from us.

And the problem is humility is hard.

It’s hard to be humble. It’s difficult to not say the last word.

It’s almost impossible not to seek revenge.

Humility is hard. It costs us something.

We feel it when we have to be humble.

It costs us our pride. It costs us our feeling of winning an argument. It costs us time and effort.

But think about Jesus and His humility.

IV. Jesus obeyed in spite of the cost.

Most of the time, we’re okay with doing something as long as the cost isn’t too great.

House chores “It’s only a few minutes”

Helping someone move “It’s only a few hours”

Giving to missions “Still have room in my budget”

Serving in a ministry “It only takes an hour a week”

We’re typically okay with something that costs us as long as it doesn’t cost too much.

Illustration: Eating out, can’t believe how expensive just eating fast food is now.

Have you ever gone somewhere, looked at the menu and said, “Goodbye!”

We like eating good food, but not if it costs too much.

Similar to being humble. We’re okay with humility, as long as it doesn’t cost too much.

Our human nature works this way. We’re willing to do certain things that are undesirable as long as the cost isn’t too great.

Giving to tithe and missions and a building fund is okay, as long as we still have room in our budgets for some other extras.

Serving in a ministry - Still have other time in the week, so it’s okay.

Being a blessing to someone that needs a meal or a ride or something - Still have most of Saturday to do other things, so it’s okay.

We’re okay with serving and being humble, but most of us have a thresh hold.

But Jesus, who deserves all the glory in the universe, held nothing back in His humility.

It cost Him His life to pay for our sins.

So humility is not, “I’ll do it as long as long as it doesn’t cost me too much.”

“I’ll be humble, but only to a point.”

“As long as it doesn’t reach that thresh hold.”

But what is Christ-like humility?

Christ-like humility is not to consider yourself at all in the process.

To not be concerned with what it costs you.

To not be thinking about yourself.

Not just to think a little less of myself. But to think of myself, less.

To spend less of my time even considering myself.

To simply be willing to let it cost me if need be.

Because genuine humility is selfless.

Jesus held nothing back in His humility.

And this is usually where we draw the line.

“I’m being humble, but if they say one more thing.”

“I’m trying to be humble, but if they ask for one more favor.”

“I’m doing my best, but I can’t keep saying yes.”

Don’t get me wrong: Is there a need for boundaries in life? Yes.

Do we need to learn to say no at times? Yes.

That’s not what I’m talking about.

I’m talking about an attitude that says, “If there’s any cost to me at all, I have to draw the line.”

That’s not the Mind Of Christ.

He held nothing back. He did not consider His cost when it came to meeting the needs of others.

Did it cost Him? Yes, it cost Him His life.

But the remaining verses remind us that when we spend for the good of others, that doesn’t go unnoticed by the Father.

When humility costs us, it never goes unnoticed by God the Father.

II. Consider what paying the cost resulted in for Jesus Christ.

“Wherefore”

Connects what’s just been written to what’s about to be written.

It’s a word-bridge. It bridges the gap between the Mind Of Christ and what comes next.

There’s a direct connection between humility and the next few words.

“Exaltation”

God lifted up to a high place, His Son, Jesus Christ.

So because of Christ’s humility, He has been lifted up.

“Honor”

The text says His name, Jesus, which was His given name upon being born, is a name above every names.

In Matthew 1:21, the angel of the Lord said, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”

The name Jesus is the Greek transliteration of Joshua or Yeshua in Hebrew, which means God saves. The Lord is salvation.

It’s interesting that Jesus’ name in Heaven is the name that is above every other name.

So the act of obedience unto death on the cross for sinners, which leads to salvation, that’s the name that God lifts up above every name for all eternity.

So understand, what cost Jesus the most on earth (His obedience unto death) is the very thing that His Father highlights and honors in eternity.

He uses the name, Jesus, God Saves, that describes His most humbling act. His death on the cross.

Which means, in God’s eyes, an act of humility never go unnoticed.

In fact, when it comes to His Son, that’s what He honors the most.

Vs. 10-11 What we have here is…

“Restoration”

God the Father has restored Jesus. He has returned Him to His rightful place in Heaven.

And one day every knee will bow.

And it will be to God’s glory for eternity.

But there’s one word in Vs. 9 I want to go back to.

“Given” Him a name which is above every name.

That’s a very deliberate word.

It comes from the Greek word “charis,” which is the root of the word “charity” which is where we get the word “grace.”

It means to show favor or to give freely.

It’s not a passing word. God actively and deliberately gave this name to Jesus and lifted up so that He will be worshipped for eternity.

So here’s the contrast:

1. Jesus gave everything to humble Himself and obey His Father.

2. And there was a time that it appeared that it cost Jesus everything.

3. People looking at the cross thought, “That was a high price.”

4. And it was. Our sin cost Jesus a lot. Let’s be honest.

5. He gave everything.

6. But it wasn’t unnoticed by His Father.

7/ And as a result of Jesus giving everything in humble obedience, God gave Him a name, in return, that is above every name and will be on the lips of people for eternity.

The point being: Humility never goes unnoticed by the Father.

And we won’t be exalted like Jesus, but genuine Humility never goes unnoticed by the Father.

In fact, the Bible principle is, “If you humble, God sees it and will exalt you in due time.”

Luke 14:11 “For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

1 Peter 5:6 “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:”

Matthew 23:12 “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”

James 4:10 “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”

Humility feels like it costs a lot in the moment.

To walk away without responding.

To give up a Saturday morning to help someone in need.

To eat it rather than defending yourself.

To serve in a less than desirable position at church.

Humility costs. It does.

But God sees it, and it’s so important to Him, that He promises to honor our humility one day.

Because of how God views the trait of humility, what feels costly in the moment will be worth it in the end.

We give something now, but God promises to reward it later.

So our reason for humility is the Mind of Christ.

But the result of humility is the honor of God.

This is a life principle:

Be willing to let it cost you in the moment, and you’ll be thankful in the end.

So let’s be humble with each other.

Let’s give each other the benefit of the doubt.

Husbands and wives, release your pride and forgive.

Church members, serve each other without keeping score.

Friends, refuse to respond to the unkind word.

Children, obey all the way, no matter the cost.

And of all us will learn that the cost of humility today becomes the honor of God tomorrow.

If Jesus was willing to pay the cost of humility as God, then we ought to be willing to pay the cost of humility as sinners.