“I’m Humble as Long as Everyone Does What I Want”: A Lesson from Philippians 2

“I always feel humble as long as everyone does what I want.”

On Saturday, I heard one of my favorite preachers bring a challenging word about humility from Philippians 2.

It was challenging because humility is hard. And my friend Neil, preaching to a room full of men, brought us face to face with the humility of Jesus.

I heard Neil speak from this passage for the first time more than 15 years ago. And I asked him to do it again for the men at our church.

If you’re not familiar, in the second chapter of his letter to the Philippians the Apostle Paul is teaching a church how to act like Christians by following the example of Jesus.

It is stunning to see the king of heaven step down from his throne to bear all the indignity of this world, to suffer, to be mocked and reviled, to be beaten and abused and betrayed, and to die in the place of sinners. 

Jesus could have destroyed his enemies with a thought. Instead, he thought to save us. 

He modeled the patience he expects from us. He became the servant we are supposed to be. And he loved others more than his own comfort, desires, or preferences.

As I was reflecting on the work the Holy Spirit was doing in my own life through Neil’s preaching, I said aloud the statement I wrote above: “I always feel humble as long as everyone does what I want.”

I don’t mean that tongue-in-cheek. It’s easy for me to be kind and laid back when things are going my way. When people respect my time and my stuff and plans and get on board with what I want.

It’s when that doesn’t happen that my pride finds its way to the surface. And that’s the point.

Jesus showed his humility by serving people doing it wrong. He didn’t come because we were awesome. He came for us because we were lost in darkness. And when he did, he humbled himself by taking on the form of a servant.

Do you struggle with pride?

Do you need to grow in humility?

Let me give you the gift that God used Neil to give to me: Look to Jesus. He is God and you are not.

Neil said it so well. 

What we desperately need is a high view of Jesus and a right view of self.

So let me encourage you to get your eyes off of yourself and to fix your eyes on Jesus. 

I’ll leave you with my favorite definition of humility: Humility is not about thinking less of yourself, but thinking of your self less.

Think about Jesus today.