LIVING A HUMBLED LIFE (Palm Sunday 2020)
Text: Philippians 2:1-11
Philippians 2:5-11 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, (6) who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, (7) but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. (8) And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (9) Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, (10) so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, (11) and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (ESV)
Until 1543, our ancestors were convinced the world revolved around us. Nicolaus Copernicus revealed the opposite point of view. He revealed that the earth revolved around the sun citing the change in the seasons and changes between night and day as proofs to his argument. Then along came Galileo who got locked up by the throne and kicked out by the church because he confirmed Copernicus’s theory. “People didn’t take well to demotions back then,” nor do they receive them well today. (Max Lucado. It’s Not About Me. Nashville: Integrity Publishers, 20024, pp. 3 - 4). We all have that inborn quest for being right and taking offense when we are proven wrong.
Years ago popular music artist Carly Simon wrote a song entitled, "You're So Vain" during the 70,s. I once heard it said that she wrote that song about Warren Beatty because of the way that he thought that he was God's gift to women. Some of the lyrics to that song go like this: "You're so vain, you probably think this song's about you." Yet, when we become Christians, hopefully, we come to the realization of our own vanity when we realize how the world really does not revolve around us!
The day will come when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
Today, the three things we will focus on are selfish-ambition, humility and love.
SELFISH-AMBITION
How well do we handle yielding to others? When we feel like we have something to prove, we are a lot mess likely to yield to others. The world is full of people who are trying to make a name for themselves.
1) Defeated while taking first place: During the days of World War II, there was a fighter pilot who was trying to make a name for himself. His name was Greg Boyington. He was trying to beat the record of a World War I renown pilot whose name was Edward Vernon Rickenbacker. (Gregory "Pappy" Boyington. Baa Baa Black Sheep. New York: Bantam Books Inc., 1977, p. 215). Rickenbacker had a record of shooting down twenty-two planes and four observation balloons. (Robert S. Phillips ed. Funk And Wagnalls New Encyclopedia. Volume 20. "Rickenbacker. Edward Vernon". New York: Funk and Wagnalls Inc., 1979, p. 301). It was the goal of the late Major Gregory "Pappy" Boyington of the United States Marine Corps to beat Rickenbacker's record. In his autobigography, Boyington wrote, " … most of the things for which I had been given credit for bravery were nothing but daredevil stunts. I was trying to build up my own ego, trying to imitate the bravery of people I had read about or had been told about in the years gone by". (Boyington, Baa Baa Black Sheep, p. 284). Although Boyington accomplished his goal, it proved to be costly because once he had completed that goal, he wound up as a prisoner of war in a Japanese POW camp.
2)The moral of Boyington’s story: If Boyington's story were to have had a moral, then I am sure that the moral would have been that some of our goals in life cost much more than they are worth. According to Paul, vanity such as that comes from when someone thinks more highly of himself/herself than he ought to think (Romans 12:3). James 4:6 says "... God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble" (NIV).
Is it possible that people misunderstood Jesus’s triumphant entry as ambitious?
1) Triumphant entry: In the Gospel section of the lectionary today, Matthew 21:1-11, Jesus told two of His disciples to go into the village, find a tied up donkey and a colt with it. Jesus told them to say “The Lord needs it” if anyone asked. Later Jesus was riding that donkey There is symbolism in Jesus’ triumphant entry.
2) Prophecy fulfilled: It was a prophecy fulfilled (Zechariah 9:9) that Jesus rode into town on a donkey---a symbol of peace. The crowds greeted Jesus as if He had come riding on a horse. The entrance that Jesus made should have gotten their attention because horses were a symbol of war whereas donkeys were a symbol of peace. (https://sermonwriter.com/biblical-commentary/zechariah-99-12-exegesis/). It was ironic that the crowds were shouting Hosanna which means “save now” (Matthew 21:9).
3) Humility: The world teaches that humility is for the weak. Jesus' life here on earth, during the days of His earthly ministry, teaches us that humility is for the strong. Jesus teaches us that godly humility comes from loving God with all of our heart and mind and strength as well as loving our neighbors as we love ourselves.
The door of life is a door of mystery. It becomes slightly shorter than the one who wishes to enter it. And thus only he who bows in humility can cross its threshold.
• Be humble or you’ll stumble. - D.L. Moody
• Never be haughty to the humble. Never be humble to the haughty. - Jefferson Davis
Sources unknown[ Galaxie Software. (2002). 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press.]
SELFISH AMBITION
Ambition is selfish when it is self-centered. Ambition is costly when it hurts us as well as those around us. In Philipians 2:1-4, Paul addresses the problem of selfish ambition. Later in Philipians 4:2-3 we see that Paul admonishes two ladies who were at odds with each other. It seems that Philipians 2:1-4 and Philipians 4:2-3 were designed to address the problem of selfish ambition. Ambition is costly when it hinders the fellowship that we are supposed to strive for in the body of Christ.
In 1986 Lou Holtz became the head coach for Notre Dame. It was unfortunate that morale was low due to football seasons that were not so successful. Holtz brought the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame back up in morale so that eventually they were a top ranking team once again. One of the methods that he used to get team morale back up to the standard that was needed was to have his players wear shirts that said TEAM in big letters and ME in small letters. One of his linebackers at the time (Wes Pritchett) was a little skeptical of this idea at first but later admitted that the message eventually "got through" to the team. "In sports, teamwork is a key ingredient". ([paraphrased and quoted from the following resource:] William P. Barker ed. Tarbell's Teahcer's Guide. 86th Annual Volume. Elgin: David C. Cook Publishing Co. 1990, pp. 198 - 199). Teamwork is to sports what fellowship is to Christians in the body of Christ! Fellowship means harmony for the group and humility for the individuals that make up the group.
Ambition can have eternal consequences. Do you recall Jesus’ teaching about ambition for the wrong reason and in the wrong direction in Mark 8:35 -37?: “For whosoever would save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel`s shall save it. For what doth it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? For what should a man give in exchange for his life?” Is our ambition being used for God’s purposes or our own purposes? Are we walking with God? Or, are we making a mess of things and then asking God to bless it?
A CHRIST-LIKE ATTITUDE
Jesus did not just talk about humility, but He also practiced what He preached. In John 13, we have the story about the time when Jesus washed the feet of His disciples. It was the job of a servant to wash the feet of the guests that were present in the house of the host. It was here that Jesus was both the host as well as a servant. After Jesus got through washing the feet of His disciples He said, "I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him" (John 13:15-16 NIV). Of course, John 13 is only one example of how Jesus humbled Himself. There are other examples in the Bible as well. It is one thing to talk about humility, but it is another thing altogether to practice humility. Yes, Jesus practiced what He preached about humility. How well do we practice what Jesus taught us about humility?
There are times when actions speak far louder than words. "As preparations were being made for a battle in the Revolutionary War, a corporal arrogantly ordered his men to lift a heavy beam. A man in civilian clothes was walking by said, "Why don't you help them?" "Sir," he replied indignantly, "I am a corporal!" The man in civilian clothes apologized for his misperception, stripped of his coat and helped the soldiers himself. When the job was finished, he said, "Corporal, the next time your men need help, call on your commander-in-chief. I'll be glad to help." With that, George Washington put on his coat and left". (Herb Miller. Actions Speak Louder Than Verbs. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1989, p. 121). If we are truly honest with ourselves, then we will have to admit that sometimes we are like that corporal. This corporal sought to exalt himself only to find that he was humbled (Matthew 23:12). Jesus teaches us that whoever wants to be great must be willing to serve those around them (Matthew 20:26). "For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted" (Matthew 23:12 NIV).
NO GREATER LOVE
There is no greater love than Jesus' love! "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13 NIV). Jesus was even a friend to those who were His enemies: "But God demonstrates his love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. … For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life" (Romans 5:8,10 NIV). The greatest example of Jesus' humility is when He lays down His life for both His friends and enemies so that through His death they might become reconciled. God's enemies cannot be reconciled to God except through accepting what Jesus did for them on the cross. One cannot be truly justified and be right with God unless he or she is also reconciled to God. There is no greater love than Jesus' love!
Jesus was humble and obedient even to the point of death on a cross (Philipians 2:8). It is easy for us to be humble and obedient so long as it is convenient. Sometimes our obedience means that we will suffer hardships and persecution. Being humble means that we must be willing to pick up our crosses and follow after Jesus (Mark 8:34). What good is it for us to make a name for ourselves and win favor with the world and its citizens if it costs us our salvation? (Mark 8:36).
There are stories that prove that the humble get exalted just as Jesus said that they would. I would like to share with you one of those stories. I once saw the movie Tuskegee Airmen that was based on a true story. There were black American fighter pilots who went from being appointed to missions to being requested. There were bombers that were always easy prey for enemy fighter planes. All of those who were members of the Tuskegee Airmen eventually began to fly as fighter escorts for these American bombers over Germany. They did not fly their missions to gain recognition. They flew their missions to protect our bombers. They became so successful that they never lost one bomber on their escort missions. Of the 400 plus pilots of the Tuskegee Airmen some 66 died laying down their lives in service to others. Like Jesus, they were willing to lay down their lives for both friends and even fellow servicemen who were enemies because of their prejudice. They were exalted not because they were seeking glory, they were exalted because in spite of the circumstances of their time, they humbly served.
How will we be exalted in heaven for our service here on earth? If we acknowledge who Jesus is on earth, then Jesus will acknowledge us before God in heaven (Matthew 10:32). It has been said that we are the only example of Jesus that some will ever see. Since we know that is true, then we need to be the best representatives of Jesus that we can be. We become the best examples of who Jesus is when we humbly pick up our crosses and follow His example.
