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True Humility

3/22/2014

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So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.    Phil. 2:1-5

Paul is urging the Philippians to take on a mindset of humility. Now, humility (lowliness) was no more a virtue in Paul’s Roman world than it is in our own world. Before understanding how to define the “humility” Paul means, we need to understand what it does not mean.

We’re not talking about some kind of an “underdog” kind of lowliness that Americans love – the kind you might find in someone not expected to succeed, who rises up and conquers all his or her foes. This is not about Superman, or Spiderman, or Batman, or some other superhero, hiding their identity, while relying on their own strength to get things done.

Nor are we talking about some "obsequious sycophant" (as one commentary put it) – in other words, someone who changes to be whatever you want them to be in a self-effacing way. An example would be the cowering toady in the Disney movie 101 Dalmatians. Cruella DeVil asks, “What kind of sycophant are you?” to which the toady replies, “What kind of sycophant would you like me to be?” This is false humility, arising from fear, with no heart to do what is right.

The humility Paul tells us to pursue is the opposite of that kind of selfish ambition that, for instance, might cause someone to preach the gospel for personal advancement. Paul mentions exactly this kind of selfish ambition in the previous chapter where he says,

Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.

Paul asks us to set our ambitions aside, and replace them with love, unity, and the respect of honoring one another even above yourself. Of all the gifts and abilities God has given you, Paul teaches you to empty yourself of all the identity you can have in those gifts, and instead employ those gifts as a servant to others.

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Lord, Take Control

7/6/2012

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Job 3 is a record of Job’s groanings and despair. He has nowhere to turn. If God has allowed him to be hemmed in on every side, then that’s his lot. He will not move until God moves.

This week a large tree branch fell on my house damaging a steel four-legged collapsible canopy and the gutters. I called the landlord, and hours later the rest of the tree limb fell. The 12 inch diameter base of the branch took out another branch on the way down. I had moved everything off of the patio – chairs and a patio table and our charcoal grill. None of that was damaged. I was feeling pretty good about the repairs to the canopy and being able to save the rest of the stuff. I have a very good landlord, who cleaned up the mess and fixed the damage in one day.

Two days later one rogue gust of wind out of a clear sky blew the canopy back and forth in the yard and destroyed it. It wasn’t a huge loss; only about $200 or so. Not enough to claim on the renter’s insurance. But it hurt me. I don’t think I was idolizing the canopy or anything, but maybe I was idolizing my own sense of control over things.

Job’s loss of control led him to despair.

For my sighing comes instead of my bread, and my groanings are poured out like water. 25 For the thing that I fear comes upon me, and what I dread befalls me. 26 I am not at ease, nor am I quiet; I have no rest, but trouble comes." - Job 3:24-26 ESV

Father, let me rest in you. Jesus, may I take hold of your salvation. Spirit, make me boast in my weakness. Humble me, that your name might be glorified in all the earth.

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    Dan Quakkelaar

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