Mind of Christ – Humility
We learned that the Mind of Christ is actually an attitude.
Philippians 2:5
That we need to adopt the same attitude as JESUS, and that the attitude was 3 fold.
1. Unity
2. Humility
3. Selflessness
Last time we discussed the 3 aspects of Unity
• Affection, Spirit, Purpose
Tonight we will be going over the 2nd Attitude of Humility.
Philippians 2:3 - Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.
Notice the words often used – HUMILITY
Some translations use the words – Lowliness of mind, or something similar – but what it really means, in the most literal sense is simply, a humble mindset.
So if you want to live out the mind of Christ in your home, office, relationship, LIFE – then you must adopt the humble attitude that Christ had.
The question that logically follows being told what to do is simple: HOW?
Turn back to the verse again:
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.
You will notice that the verse is, essentially, broken into 2 parts: do not, and DO
Do NOTHING out of selfish ambition or conceit.
Basically what we are looking at is this: if this is found IN YOU, then the mind of Christ, HUMILITY, is not.
In your heart, in your actions, there should be no selfish ambition or conceit.
No negotiations!
In fact, when Paul wrote this verse, the word we translate as NOTHING, is actually a double negative – so what he literally wrote was NOTHING twice. Do Not do NOTHING
He lists 2 sinful attitudes:
1. Selfish ambition
2. Conceit
Now selfish ambition is a self promoting heart. Its all about who gets the glory.
Actions are taken and efforts are made, so recognition is on yourself, rather than on God.
Now to show the power here, the word Paul used, that we translate as selfish ambition, is actually a word that was used in his time as a reference for politicians who would travel around garnering support!
Conceit is a word we don’t often use anymore. But it is a word that we are familiar with: EGO!
Do nothing out of EGO.
That inflated EGO.
Conceit means translates to empty accolades and opinions. = inflated ego
This is like getting caught up in the praise of man. Then desiring to feed off that. So for a pastor, it would be like hearing someone talk about how much that sermon really changed their life, and then the pastor thinking THEY did something. Getting the attitude that: my preaching saves souls.
When in fact, it was the HS moving in them and through the pastor – the WORD of God.
I can tell you, there are times when I preach what I consider to be the most abysmal of failures of a sermon, and then someone comes up and says that it was straight to their heart -> lets me know quick that I am being preached THROUGH, and to God be the GLORY!
So the verse begins with 2 sinful attitudes, that we are NOT to have, and finishes with GOOD attitudes.
Call it a Biblical Safeguard.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.
Notice the balance of the verse, to keep from this, do this.
You cannot be self promoting, or self inflating, if you are believing that others are better than yourself.
It doesn’t work that way. Either you are the better, or they are the better. God says: consider others as more important than yourselves.
What does this do? It keeps us from getting that ‘holier than thou’ mentality by encouraging us to consider out interactions with others as an honor and privilege; and we should let others know that we feel this way.
Thank others for their time, even if they sought you out.
Give the person your undivided attention – that says A LOT!
When talking about the success of something, lift up the accomplishments and strengths of others.
Notice what Paul does in Philippians 1:1
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus:
To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons.
He writes to overseers and deacons, and identifies himself, not as Apostle Paul, but as a servant!
He sincerely lifts others up, while also sincerely identifies as whom he truly is: a servant of Christ!
