LOVE LIKE THAT: Self-Giving
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BIG IDEA
HUMILITY IS NOT PUTTING YOURSELF DOWN BUT LIFTING OTHERS UP.
Good Morning!
It is good to see everyone this morning.
Last week we celebrated Easter and had a wonderful time together.
If you were out of town last week, good news, we paused our series and focused on how Christ's life, death, and resurrection have made it possible for people to be made whole again.
All of us are born separated from God, but because of Jesus, we have a way to be reunited with God, and that missing piece of our lives is restored.
Today we are picking up with chapter 5 which is entitled “Self-Giving”.
If you are reading along and know that this is the last chapter, don’t worry, we will have at least one more sermon in this series.
The last one will talk about how we accomplish all that we have discussed in this series.
More on that next week.
In this study, we’ve been talking about loving like Jesus - what that means and how to do it.
Frankly, I want to love like Jesus and so do you.
As I’ve mentioned each week, you may not even be part of a church, but something inside of you gravitates toward having a more loving marriage, family, and friendship relationships.
In fact, don’t we look for solutions in all the relationship challenges we face?
Who wouldn’t want to have a better marriage or a better environment at work or school?
I’d like to get along better with people that might even call me an enemy.
We’re in a series called LOVE LIKE THAT.
Each week I’ve been emphasizing what you already know: none of us have arrived yet.
We are all trying to figure it out, trying to get it right.
Largely because we know the stakes are so high.
All of us intuitively know that our actions, even our intentions can and do have a generational impact.
So, this is something we want to get right.
Our theme passage for the entire series is Ephesians 5:1-2
1 Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. 2 Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.
Loving like Jesus involves being mindful, being approachable, being grace-full, and being bold.
Today we’ll see it also includes being self-giving.
There are two passages I want to unpack today.
The first is from some of the last words and actions of Jesus before He goes to the cross to die for us.
It is the most incredible example and illustration of being self-giving you’ll find.
It’s found in John 13.
The second passage actually gives us a clear definition of humility and a way to make it part of our daily routine.
Let’s get started.
This is just moments… hours before Jesus dies on the cross.
HERE WE FIND THE PERFECT PICTURE OF SELF-GIVING!
HERE’S THE WHO…
HERE’S THE WHO…
1 Before the Passover Festival, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
We get a clear picture of the character of Jesus’ love beginning in the first verse.
Jesus knew this was it.
His hour had come.
Knowing all things, He was clearly aware that He had precious few hours left here before His death.
Final hours bring final words.
Those words tend to carry a great deal of weight.
When death is near, there’s no time for wasted words.
We all know this to be true.
You want to use what time is left to impact those that are closest to you.
The last words of David Cassidy, an American actor and singer known for The Partridge Family, were “So much wasted time.”
Surely a statement of regret and challenge to make the most of one’s life.
Last words can carry the weight of guilt and regret or can help lead others to a deeper understanding of life and challenge us to navigate it wisely.
We don't learn by discussing it.
It's discovered through actions of love.
Any of you in the room that have experienced a major illness or are close to someone that has, you know that a brush with death changes the way you live.
I can tell you from my personal life, things have become less valuable and experiences with the people I love take precedence.
When we are at the end or think we are near the end, the importance of our words and actions are brought into sharp focus.
I believe that this moment for Jesus was no different.
His friends, His companions, His disciples are with Him for one last Passover… one final supper.
After spending three years with His close band of brothers, it was time to say goodbye.
Over the course of time, they had learned so much.
Jesus had taught many things regarding the kingdom of God.
Some understood, and some didn’t.
But as the time of His “departure” approached, He saved some of His most significant teachings for the upper room and just for those closest to Him, His disciples.
Jesus is revealing new truths to His disciples.
He talks about His love for them and how it continues to the very end.
His public ministry is over and now, with the focused intensity of one sharing final words, He teaches us how to live in a self-giving way.
Pay close attention to how Jesus spends this time with his closest friends.
2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.
At this moment, Jesus puts all his focus on his disciples.
We are reminded that all power and authority are His.
It’s in this context that Jesus puts on a towel and washes His disciple’s feet.
Crazy. This is shocking on multiple levels.
Jesus has spent three years publically and privately declaring through His words, actions, and miracles that He is in fact God in the flesh.
John records these examples in his gospel…
17 Jesus responded to them, “My Father is still working, and I am working also.” 18 This is why the Jews began trying all the more to kill him: Not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal to God.
28 As he was teaching in the temple, Jesus cried out, “You know me and you know where I am from. Yet I have not come on my own, but the one who sent me is true. You don’t know him; 29 I know him because I am from him, and he sent me.”
58 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.”
30 I and the Father are one.”
The Jews understood that Jesus was claiming to be God, and that’s the reason they sought to kill Him.
If they had misunderstood Him, all Jesus would have had to say is, “Sorry fellas, you misunderstood. Let me clear this up.”
But, He didn’t.
They understood clearly.
Jesus was and is God in the flesh.
That’s what makes this demonstration of humility so shocking.
The God of Creation, the God who spoke all things into existence, would humble Himself by doing the lowly act of washing the feet of His disciples… an act reserved in the culture for servants or the lowest classes of people.
Consider the history and background.
Walking in sandals on the roads of first-century century Israel made it a constant and regular practice of washing your feet before a shared meal.
This was especially true because people didn’t normally sit in chairs at a table for a meal but reclined at a low table to eat and their feet were exposed.
When Jesus got up from the table to wash His disciple’s feet, He was doing work of the lowest of society.
The disciples must have been stunned by Jesus’ action that evening.
Even though they hadn’t fully understood the fullness of Jesus’ identity yet, they knew this was “below Him.”
As we look at His life, we say, “They shouldn’t have been surprised.”
After all, Matthew 20:28 says…
28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Jesus’ act of self-giving and humility was actually a foreshadowing of the ultimate act of humility and love He would express on the cross in just hours.
Jesus’ self-giving attitude was in direct contrast to that of the disciples, who had recently been arguing among themselves about who would be the greatest in the kingdom of God and who would sit on Jesus’ side. (Luke 22:24)
John 13:6-7 says…
6 He came to Simon Peter, who asked him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I’m doing you don’t realize now, but afterward you will understand.”
Peter’s statement clearly shows that he didn’t have a clue of what Jesus was doing.
Even Jesus tells Peter this time, you don’t know what I’m doing.
The implication is that there is more to Jesus washing feet than a hygiene issue.
There’s something more going on.
Peter doesn’t get it yet, but he will.
Here’s another indication Peter didn’t understand Jesus’ act of self-giving.
John 13:8-11 says…
8 “You will never wash my feet,” Peter said. Jesus replied, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.” 10 “One who has bathed,” Jesus told him, “doesn’t need to wash anything except his feet, but he is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For he knew who would betray him. This is why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
Peter loved Jesus, no doubt.
So, when Jesus says this is necessary, he goes ALL IN.
I like the attitude, but he missed the point.
There was a deeper meaning found in this act of humility.
Peter had come to know who Jesus was.
He didn’t have a full understanding of salvation until Pentecost, but he didn’t need to be washed again in the spiritual sense.
Salvation is justification before God by faith.
There’s also a process of sanctification in growing in depth of our understanding and love for God.
12 When Jesus had washed their feet and put on his outer clothing, he reclined again and said to them, “Do you know what I have done for you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are speaking rightly, since that is what I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done for you. 16 “Truly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his master, and a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him.
Here is the picture that Jesus gives when Jesus washed the disciples’ feet.
What they have just experienced and witnessed is to be replicated over and over.
Don’t just talk about servanthood and humility… do it.
If we call ourselves His followers, we are to imitate Him, serving one another in humility, and building one another up in love.
When we have that servant’s heart, the Lord promised, we will be greatly blessed.
HERE’S THE HOW:
HERE’S THE HOW:
We are going to break this down into four key postures that Paul describes in Philippians 2:3-4.
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.
1. Don't Be Selfish
1. Don't Be Selfish
Kids go to all sorts of extremes not to share.
They will hide their toys.
They will lie.
They will leave the room.
They will fight.
You get the idea.
We’re like that at times too.
Christians are not to have selfish motives.
Although no verb appears in the Greek text, Paul's statement has the force of a negative command.
The word he uses for “selfishness” is sometimes translated "strife" because selfishness puts a person at war with others.
It refers to factionalism, rivalry, and partisanship.
Galatians 5:20 lists it as a work of the flesh.
Selfishness is egotism - a personal desire to advance oneself that is ALWAYS destructive and disruptive.
I rarely say, “always,” but this time it applies.
Loving like Jesus starts with slaying the giant of selfishness.
It involves getting rid of the consuming and destructive pride rooted deep within.
It's what prompts us to push for our own way and seek to fulfill our own agendas.
2. Don't Be Conceited
2. Don't Be Conceited
The word translated "empty conceit" or "vain conceit"(ken-o-dox-i-a) is used only here in the New Testament.
Found only here.
The KJV translates it "vainglory."
It refers to seeking after personal glory.
"Selfishness" describes someone's pursuing an enterprise in a factional way, but "empty or vain conceit" specifies the desired result: personal glory.
The keyword is pride.
Pride is what makes me independent from God.
It is one of the sources of separation we discussed last week.
Sin separates us and pride keeps us separated.
It’s appealing to me to feel that I am the master of my fate, that I run my own life, call my own shots, and go it alone.
But that feeling is my basic dishonesty.
I can’t go it alone and neither can you.
Others have said, “It is amazing what can be accomplished when we’re not concerned with who gets the credit.”
I’ve shared with you guys how much I love working at Petron and how great the people are that I work with.
This is a big part of the reason.
None of them are trying to be the hero or get the glory.
If we can all work together and do a really good job on the projects, then we are all genuinely happy and satisfied.
That kind of attitude and approach to work that our management team has, makes all the difference in the world.
In fact, we have a new guy working for us now.
He has been with us for about a month and he is still thrown off by it.
He came from a company that was extremely competitive and harsh.
It is a joy to see the relief on his face every time he realizes that he no longer has to be concerned with those things.
Many times we have sung the popular song “Take Over” by the artist, Shane and Shane.
The lyrics of the bridge have always jumped out at me and they address the emotion that comes when we realize that we have been living for ourselves instead of God.
What am I supposed to do with all my kingdoms next to you
You're the Lord
I could gain the world and more
It's all nothing next to you
My reward
3. Regard Others as More Important than Yourself
3. Regard Others as More Important than Yourself
"Humility" or "Humility of mind" translates one word from the Greek text of Philippians 2:3
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.
It was apparently coined by the writers of the NT because it is not found in any previous ancient writings.
The adjective form of the word was used in other Greek writings to describe the mentality of a slave.
It conveyed the idea of being base, shabby, low, and common.
It was a term of mockery - not virtue.
The pre-New Testament pagan world thought humility was something ugly, never to be sought, and certainly never to be admired.
But in the OT, God commends humility.
He chose humble people to do His work.
He saved the lowly and the meek.
He hears the prayers of the downcast and gives grace to the lowly.
So, where humility is an affirmed virtue in the OT, it was not viewed this way in the pagan world.
The writers of the NT were introducing their previously pagan readers to an entirely new concept.
Paul defined "humility of mind" as regarding one another more important than us.
We are to think of others in the church as superior to us.
Yet often that's the opposite of what we think.
For example, we're often quick to speak of the faults and failures of others.
Generally, we can only guess what's in the heart of another.
A wife may say to her husband, "I know what you're thinking," and she may or may not be right.
If she's wrong, he may be frustrated, and if she's right, he may be even more frustrated.
But it's generally true that the only sin or grace we know of in another person is what we see or hear.
Yet there is one heart we all know very well - our own.
That was Paul's attitude.
We would probably say, "Paul, you're the greatest Christian who ever lived!"
But he himself said, "I am the least of the apostles, who am not fit to be called an apostle" (1 Cor. 15:9) and "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all” (1 Tim. 1:15).
According to his own knowledge of himself, Paul knew he was the worst sinner ever.
And because of what we know of ourselves, we should adopt the same attitude toward ourselves.
That should give you a different opinion of other people.
4. Don't Look Out Only for Your Own Interests
4. Don't Look Out Only for Your Own Interests
We live in a society where most people care only about their own personal interests.
We're told to love ourselves, focus on ourselves, and even worship ourselves.
“Treat yo self” - Meme
But that only pours gasoline on the fire of human pride.
Christians aren't to regard their personal enterprises as their only goals in life.
We are to be passionately involved in the causes of others.
Often there's conflict because people are involved only with their piece of the pie - they don't see the big picture.
When he said "personal interests," I think Paul was speaking about legitimate ministry interests - those goals that honor the Lord and are part of our responsibilities as Christians.
Those things are important, but our interests need to extend to the interests of others.
I think Paul meant that while we're busy tending to our responsibilities and other things on our hearts, we also need to be concerned about matters that concern those around us.
The interests, enterprises, needs, tasks, goals, gifts, spiritual character, ministries, qualities, strengths, and significance of others to the Lord and the church are to be considered equal in importance to our own.
That's a high standard to live by.
Competition in the Christian community is tragic.
God has clearly spoken through Paul that we are to build up other believers.
A 36-year-old woman discovered she had terminal cancer.
The doctor told her to spend her last days enjoying herself in Acapulco.
The second doctor offered hope of living two to four years with grueling side effects of chemotherapy and radiation.
She penned these words to her three small children – “I’ve chosen to try to survive for you.
This has some horrible costs, including pain, loss of my good humor, and moods I won’t be able to control.
But I must try this, if only on the outside chance that I might live one minute longer and that minute could be the one you might need me when no one else will do.
For this I intend to struggle tooth and nail so help me God.”
This is what it looks like to put the interest of others before your own.
Conclusion
If the church lives by the standard of conduct God has set for us, we will eliminate competition and divisiveness.
God's standard is very high.
The only one who ever lived it to perfection was Jesus Christ, so He is our model (Philippians 2:5-8)
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.
If we are going to Love Like Jesus, we have to Live Like Jesus.
That is a tall order and next week we are going to look at how we go about living up to Christ's example.
But don’t wait until next week to have conversations with God about your selfishness.
Start today and let's begin the work that we all need.
Let’s pray.
Announcements:
Good job and thank you to everyone for being early last week and for helping with all the activities!
Unity Walk