Philippians 2 - Are You Full Of Yourself?

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Imitating Christ’s Humility

2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

In this chapter Paul talks about the humility of Christ, and how we should become like-minded. Note our choice to be a humble person is based on the benefits we have already received by being united with Christ. Christ offers us encouragement, comfort, love, fellowship, and unity of our spirit and mind. 

It is out of the deep sense of gratitude that Paul asks us to make his joy complete. Note, Paul is made complete by the growth of the Philippians to be more humble like Jesus. Again, we see his true shepherd's heart. 

What does the humble life look like? In my opinion Paul gives us the best definition humility, "Value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but to the interests of others."

Humility is the opposite of pride which only focuses on self. Pride is the primary symptom of our sinful nature. It's essence is, "It's all about me!" The truly humble person focuses more on the happiness and the well being of those around them. When they come into the room, they care less about what they can get from people and more about what they might offer to someone there. 

Now, we see the ultimate example of humility, our Lord Jesus Christ. 

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Scholars tell us that this was an early hymn sung in the church. We call this a "Christological hymn". Christology is the study of the nature of Christ. Knowing the essence of who Jesus is and who he isn't is very important for our theology. Not having the correct understanding of Jesus as 100% human and 100% God was a huge issue in the early church and also today. 

Note he starts by saying, "In your relationships with others." Our relationship with Jesus is always expressed in relationship to others, especially with those in the church. Paul tells us to have, "the same mindset as Christ!" Humility is always a choice, it is not a feeling. It is a mindset. Jesus' mindset was that of a servant. He came not to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many. (Mark 10)

Here is the key verse, "Though in very nature he was God, he made himself nothing taking the nature of a servant being made in human likeness." Paul is saying that Jesus has always been God but by coming to earth and becoming a man, he became fully human. Jesus experienced everything we did as humans, yet was without sin. As a human, Jesus also made a choice to be obedient even to death on the cross. 

Jesus humbled himself. He gave up his rights as God. Jesus is completely God and did not consider his equality with God has something to be grasped, but emptied himself.  I like the term "emptied himself". It is a good metaphor. We need to empty ourselves of pride, vanity, and thinking more highly ourselves than we out. We often say, "So and so is so full of themselves." This is another way of saying someone is not very humble!

The result of Jesus' obedience took him to death on the cross. Jesus chose to go to the cross. Jesus chose to go to the cross in obedience to His Father. It was not an easy choice. Remember the agony he experienced in the Garden when he said, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me." 

Jesus chose to go to the cross because of his love for you and me. The truest example of putting others interests as greater than his own. 

Finally, as a result of Jesus' obedience to go to the cross (the lowest point), God raised him from the dead and he ended up at the highest place, the right hand of God. One day every knee with bow and tongue confess Jesus is Lord. Jesus came as a humble servant and one day we will confess Jesus is Lord!

Do Everything Without Grumbling

12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

As Paul said in chapter 1, God works in us to fulfill our calling. Though we need to submit to God, he literally works in us to do what he wants us to do. God never calls us to do something he won't help us to accomplish in the power of the Holy Spirit, who lives in us. 

When Paul says to "work out your salvation", he is not advocating a return to works based salvation. He is not overturning the central message he states in Ephesians 2:8, "We are saved by grace through faith based on the Word of God!" Working out salvation means we are living out the life we are called to live by grace. We are saved by grace and we grow in grace to accomplish God's purpose. God's purpose for your life is to become the person Jesus would be if he were you.  

14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

Paul also addresses the fact that it is not only what you do but how you do it. No one likes to be around a complainer or a whiner. Usually when we are complaining or whining, we have a bad attitude, and we have forgotten why we are doing it in the first place. When we are serving the Lord, we have no reason to complain, because we will never do anything more lowly than he was willing to do. Jesus never complained even when he went to the cross. 

25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. 26 For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. 29 So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, 30 because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.

Paul had many co-workers that we would not know if he did not mention in his letters. Epaphroditus was apparently someone whom the Philippians sent to take care of Paul. But apparently he got ill, but was concerned more about the Philippians' worrying about him than his own needs. 

Probably, the Philippians sent Epaphroditus not only as a messenger, but also to be a personal attendant to Paul on behalf of the Philippians. When illness prevented Epaphroditus from doing this, he may have seemed like a failure (perhaps even a malingerer) in the eyes of the Philippians. Paul assured them this was not the case; in fact, it was just the opposite – Epaphroditus served above and beyond the call of duty.

The ancient Greek phrase not regarding his life uses a gambler’s word that meant to risk everything on the roll of the dice. Paul wrote that for the sake of Jesus Christ, Epaphroditus was willing to gamble everything.

How do knowing that God is working in you to fulfill his good purpose motivate you