The High Calling

Years ago, country music sensation Mac Davis sang, “Oh Lord, it’s hard to be humble, when you’re perfect in every way.” Though his light-hearted song is ironic, it also points to several truths about humility. Humility, according to Philippians 2, is essential if we’re going to live and lead for the good of others. Scripture repeatedly calls us to be humble. This leads to a question: How can we become truly humble? A starting point is to admit to ourselves and to the Lord that this is hard for us. Davis was right. It is hard to be humble. But that recognition, ironically, helps us to grow in humility. Read more: https://buff.ly/HTQYcXF

The “Christ Hymn” in Philippians 2:6-11 shows us that the earliest Jewish followers of Jesus did indeed consider him to be both human and divine. This can encourage us in our faith. Moreover, when we reflect on who Jesus Christ truly is, someone both fully human and fully God, and when we consider what he sacrificed for us and our good, we will be moved and empowered to live and lead for the good of others, in imitation of our Lord and Savior. Read more: https://buff.ly/HTQYcXF

If we want to seek the good of others in our life and leadership, we need to be genuinely humble. True humility will enable us to sacrifice for others in the way of Christ. Read more: https://buff.ly/HTQYcXF

Christ, once in the form of God and equal to God, emptied himself, moving from the highest rung of the ladder to the lowest. He became human, even like a slave. And he chose the way of humility, dying a slave's death on the cross. Therefore, God the Father lifted him higher than all others, giving him God's own name, Lord. In response, all creatures will bow before him in worship and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. All of this was instigated by God the Father and leads to the Father's glory. Read more: https://buff.ly/HTQYcXF

The Christ Hymn in Philippians 2:6-11 doesn't give us a complete theology of the incarnation and death of Christ. Rather, it focuses on the unprecedented, counter-cultural, and mind-expanding "emptying" of Christ. He not only gave up the privileges of deity, but even took on the form of a slave, dying a slave's death on the cross. The unique sacrifice of Christ serves as a model for us. It challenges us. It inspires us. And it ultimately enables us to imitate the self-giving love of Christ. Read more: https://buff.ly/HTQYcXF

If we’re going to live and lead for the good of others, we will pay attention to and imitate the example of Jesus. We will at times “empty ourselves” of our advantage and privilege, choosing the way of humble servanthood. Read more: https://buff.ly/HTQYcXF

Philippians 2 tells us that we should “watch out for what is better for others,” rather than seeking our own advantage. We are to do this in imitation of “the attitude that was in Christ Jesus.” We begin to grasp this attitude when we understand that Christ, though truly God, did not cling to his advantage. Rather, he sought what was best for others, what is best for us. As we seek to imitate Christ, we will endeavor to do likewise. Read more: https://buff.ly/vkNG5Yl

The Apostle Paul urges us to “watch out for what is better for others,” rather than focusing on our own good. Why should we do this? Because, as Christians, we are to “adopt the attitude that was in Christ Jesus.” We are to think as Jesus thought, and Jesus put others before himself. Read more: https://buff.ly/vkNG5Yl

The rightness or wrongness of pleasing people is often more complicated than it might at first seem. Sometimes, we might please people out of a desire for them to experience what is best. At other times, we might displease them in the hope that their displeasure will lead to a positive outcome. When life is particularly complex, we may be unsure whether it’s right to please people or displease them, for their benefit. But, at all times, we can be sure that pleasing God should always be our top priority, always that which we most aspire to do. Read more: https://buff.ly/vkNG5Yl

Maximilian Kolbe put God first in his life. This enabled him to give his life to save someone else. Kolbe's commitment to and passion for God's glory enabled him to seek the good of another person over his own good. Though you and I may never face a situation like his, and though our souls may never be so devoted to God's glory as was Kolbe's, the more we seek the glory of God, our true #1, the more we will be free and empowered to seek the good of others, even at great personal cost. Read more: https://buff.ly/SeJFAO5

As a Christian, I confess that God is #1. And this #1 rightly deserves my primary allegiance. In fact, even before I seek what's best for my neighbor, I am committed to knowing and doing what's best for my Lord. Read more: https://buff.ly/SeJFAO5