Wednesday — An Attitude of Humility
Read: Philippians 2:1–11
SOAP: Philippians 2:3–5
Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself. Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well. You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had.
Into the Text
On Paul’s second missionary journey, he established a church in the city of Philippi. This church included diverse races, cultures, and social classes. Paul wrote the letter we read today to encourage the believers there to find their joy in Christ, no matter what they faced. Seeking to be like Christ brings joy, fulfillment, and peace unlike anything else. It can also bring unity even among the most diverse communities.
Those of us who love God are called to be united in mind, love, spirit, and purpose. We are to treat one another as more important than ourselves, put aside our pride and vanity, and embrace an attitude and posture of humility. As we seek to become more like Christ, we can develop a biblical community with other like-minded believers as we hold one another accountable for our words, deeds, and actions.
Jesus had every right to push His way to the front. The Son of God had all the authority and power to do anything He wanted without worrying about anyone else. But Jesus didn’t do what people expected of the Messiah. He was loving, helpful, and invited others into His ministry. He freely shared His wisdom and helped others without ever expecting or asking them to somehow pay Him back. There was no fear of scarcity in His mission. Jesus wants as many as possible to receive Him as Savior, and He was willing to put the needs of others ahead of His own to show them His love.
Like Jesus, we shouldn’t just be concerned about ourselves and the things that impact our lives, but also the things that others are going through. We are to act like Christ, who humbled Himself, became a human, and died for our sins. He did not claim any special privileges but lived alongside His disciples, eating with sinners and noticing the overlooked. Our comfort, opinions, and pride will never be more important than loving and honoring the people God has put in our lives.
