LIVING A HUMBLED LIFE
Text: Philipians 2:1-11
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."
In Biblical perspective, 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). That is not to say that pride in its original context is a bad thing. God opposes the kind of pride that anyone uses to elevate his/her self-importance while slighting others and their importance. Racism, sexism, ageism, nationalism, denominationalism, subordination due to social class, intellectual conceit, success, materialism are all forms of pride. Egotism is at the root of all of them.
Philipians 2:1-11 is not about nurturing the ego like the world tells that we ought to do. No, Philipians 2:1-11 is about living a life that is humble. 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 that God-willed pride does not come from what we do for ourselves. 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.
SELFISH AMBITION
Ambition is selfish when it is self-centered. The world is full of people who are trying to make a name for themselves. 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. 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 more than they are worth.
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. It was as if Paul were saying to the those two ladies Euodia and Syntyche as well as the rest of the community that ambition is costly when it hinders the fellowship that we are supposed to strive for in the body of Christ.
From 1986 -1999, Lou Holtz (now the Head Coach of the University of South Carolina Gamecocks as of 1999) 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.
A CHRIST-LIKE ATTITUDE
Jesus took on the form of a servant. Jesus left all the glory of heaven to come and serve (Philipians 2:6-7). 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).
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. There is no way anyone could argue that Jesus did not humble Himself as a servant (Philipians 2:8). 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?
"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).
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. However, it is not always convenient, because sometimes our obedience means that we will suffer hardships and persecution. Being humble means that we must be willing to deny ourselves and 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).
Just recently I saw the movie "Tuskegee Airmen". It was a movie 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.
