Be Happy Through Love and Humility

INTRODUCTION

Have you noticed the division and strife that is going on in our country?

A spirit of discord is taking root in our society, and sadly at times, within a church.

When you are caught up in the middle of fighting and division, how do you feel?

Do you feel a sense of joy and happiness?

The title of the series through Philippians we have been digging through is entitled, Be Happy.

We are examining this letter from Paul to look for some insights into how to be happy or joyful in life, even when the situation may not look like one of which we could be happy.

As I have pointed out, Paul was in prison when he penned this letter, which was not the only problem he was facing at the time.

He was dealing with people who were preaching the Gospel with sinister motives, he was dealing with some division, he was fighting off personal attacks as well.

When we start to examine life, we will see the issues we will discuss today have an impact on our ability to be happy.

When we are quarreling with others, we do so because we want something so bad that we forget how we are called to deal with other people.

James deals with this subject in James 4:1-3.

James 4:1–3 CSB

1 What is the source of wars and fights among you? Don’t they come from your passions that wage war within you? 2 You desire and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and wage war. You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and don’t receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.

When I forget why and I am here and what my calling is, I will forget how to treat you, and when that happens, no one is happy.

In the passage today, we will see three things we can do to be happy in life.

Our BIG IDEA TODAY IS THIS: Joy AND HAPPINESS are maximized when we love one another well, and Jesus modeled humility as the way to do so.

Let’s begin by turning to Philippians 2:1-2.

Philippians 2:1–2 CSB

1 If, then, there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.

SERMON

I. Gaining happiness through unity.

In verse one, the phrase IF, THEN ties this passage back to Philippians 1:27-30, where Paul speaks of living a life worthy of the Gospel.]

Paul implores his readers to “make [his] joy complete” by living a life of love toward one another (v. 2).

A similar phrase is used by Jesus in John 15:11–13:

John 15:11–13 CSB

11 “I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. 12 “This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends.

In verse one, we see the word IF used four times because Paul is trying to punctuate his point.

The assumption is that each of the statements following the IF clause is not being questioned about their existence, but rather, the assumption is that they exist.

The technique that Paul employs is known as First Class Conditional sentences.

The clauses are intended to establish powerful motives or incentives for doing what is asked in verses 2-4.

The first reality that motivates unity is encouragement in Christ. Encouragement has the root meaning of coming alongside someone to give assistance by offering comfort, counsel, or exhortation. MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2001). Philippians (p. 104). Chicago: Moody Press.

Paul is telling everyone that God will supply the strength we need to carry out the ideas in verses 2-4. The word ENCOURAGEMENT also carries the idea of consolation or strengthening.

The things that are asked of all Christians will require God to come alongside of us to help!

The next motivation is CONSOLATION OF LOVE!

The phrase refers to the persuasive power, a friendly persuasion.

Love is to be a motive to which Paul appeals, the motive of love based on the idea that love does move a person to action and that love drives one to do more than what is required.

Next he appeals to FELLOWSHIP OF THE SPIRIT.

The word FELLOWSHIP means a participation or a PARTNERSHIP in a common cause.

IF we are in fellowship with the Holy Spirit, we will partner with Him for the cause of unity!

Then verse one finishes with the concept of AFFECTION AND MERCY!

Paul is appealing to human kindness toward one another.

Sadly, this is getting to be a lost art in our time.

ALL of these appeals are given to us so that Paul’s joy may be COMPLETE as we all strive for unity!

What is unity?

Paul offers some insight.

Unity involves being of the same mind!

This thought means to think the same thing!

But it does not mean mindless conformity, but rather this thought refers to solid commitment to the same purposes and cause.

Being of the same mind is a commitment sufficiently powerful enough to override the tendencies we have toward squabbling and divisiveness.

Being of the same mind means we may not agree on all of the particulars, but our commitment to the overarching principles are so strong that we can deal with the rest.

Church splits can happen over the most minor things.

Unity involves having the SAME LOVE

The love of Christ is the same love we are to show to others if we seek to achieve unity!

Unity means we must be united in spirit.

The phase means to be joined in soul.

We could say this means that two hearts beat as one.

Finally, unity involves being INTENT ON ONE PURPOSE!

This ties closely to thinking the same thing.

Paul teaches that the inner attitude determines the outer life. Romans 8:5-8 and 2 Corinthians 13:11

When we are united, we will be happy. Where there is strife and division, their is not happiness of peace.

In the church, each one of us has to ask ourselves, what will it take for me to disrupt unity?

What is worthy of destroying the unity of my church? What is worth destroying the unity of my family?

Let’s turn to verse 3-4.

Philippians 2:3–4 CSB

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.

II. Gaining happiness through humility.

When strife, envy and jealousy happen, life is disrupted, and feelings are hurt and sometimes, lives are ruined.

Verse three and four offer some insight into two things that will destroy what is asked of us in verse 2.

The first is a warning against SELFISH AMBITION.

The basic thought behind selfish ambition is the thought that it is ALL ABOUT ME, my wants, my desires, my way, my rights.

It is so easy to fall into this trap, and many times one can fall into this thinking they are standing up for what is right.

The Apostle Paul was an example of this before he became a Christian.

The second issue that ties into the first is CONCEIT.

A person who is conceited thinks they are better than others; therefore, their views and rights are move valid than that of others.

Conceit is elevating or commending oneself over others.

The root of the word implies someone with a hollow opinion of themself because their opinion is not based in reality.

When these two things exist in one’s life, it is a receipt for disaster and destruction.

A person who struggles with these issues usually have issues with many folks in their path.

Their life is one of chaos and difficult relationships with others.

The overarching issue is pride. A pride that tells one they are and could not ever be wrong.

A pride that will not accept correction or any thought of correction, because who are they to tell me?

Proverbs 13:10 CSB

10 Arrogance leads to nothing but strife, but wisdom is gained by those who take advice.

Paul offers a better alternative, an alternative that will help lead one to a happier life.

HUMILITY!

Humility was an interesting word during the time of the writing of this letter.

Humility had a VERY negative vibe to it in the Greek culture and language.

The word was used to denote someone who was weak and cowardly.

In New Testament usage, the word was used to describe one who would stoop down to lift up another person.

Paul describes humility in verses 3-4.

The humble person considers others as more important than themself.

This thought does not mean they do not care for themself, but rather, they consider others as more important.

This thought is the opposite of selfish ambition.

Then we are told the humble person also looks out for the interests of others.

Christians are not called to selfishly fix our eyes upon our own personal interests at the exclusion of others.

Jesus echos the heart of this thought in Matthew 19:19

Matthew 19:19 CSB

19 honor your father and your mother; and love your neighbor as yourself.

A humble person is a happy person as well as a satisfied person because they realize that the world does not revolve around them, that life is more than themself, it is about loving and serving others!

Let’s turn to Philippians 2:5-11 for our final thought.

Philippians 2:5–11 CSB

5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. 7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross. 9 For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth— 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

III. Gaining happiness through following the example of Jesus.

When we follow the example of Jesus, our lives will be much better and much more joyful and happy!

Notice that verse 5 encourages us to ADOPT the same attitude as Jesus!

When I am selfish and self-centered, demanding my way and running over anyone in my path, I am being Christ-like?

The goal of Christians having this attitude is spiritual unity in the church by their being “of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose” (v. 2).

Unity in the church can come only from an attitude of genuine humility, of believers truly regarding others as more important than themselves—the attitude that was supremely manifested in Christ Jesus during His incarnation. MNTC Php.

We are given the depth of the example Jesus gave to all.

He existed in the form of God, which means HE is and ALWAYS is God, HE cannot be changed into anything BUT who He is, God!

Now, given this thought, when we are told He did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited, it means as follows.

Jesus did not require living in a manner of equality with God a thing He tenaciously had to hang on to at all costs.

Verse 7 tells us that he EMPTIED HIMSELF.

Jesus did not hang on to the prerogatives of being God when He came to live among us.

When Jesus emptied Himself, He did not give up His Deity (FORM OF GOD WHICH HAS AND WILL ALWAYS EXIST), but He did give up the independent exercise of some of the prerogatives of Deity during the time He lived as a human.

He temporarily subordinated Himself to the Father for our benefit!

Jesus did all this for us, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even to death on a cross!

CONCLUSION

When we are struggling to find happiness in life, Paul says we can find happiness through promoting unity, not division.

We are told that happiness can be found in humility.

These things are found as we strive to follow Jesus and His example.

Had Jesus been only focused on Jesus, we would not have eternal life, peace, or a relationship with God!

Maybe if we are not happy in life, maybe we need to recalibrate our focus.