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Read: Philippians 2:3-11
Listen: Philippians 2

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Philippians 2:3-4

Paul’s call for humility was completely subversive to the culture of the early Christians. In first-century Rome, humility was not considered a virtue. A Roman citizen would never show humility toward a person of equal or lesser social standing. A ruler or divine being would never show humility toward anyone. Yet, that is what Jesus did: “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing” (Philippians 2:6-7). Jesus did not promote himself, though his divinity gave him reason to. Instead, he lived and died in service to others. Paul urges the early Christians to do the same. They are to set personal interests aside and value others above themselves.

Our society rewards self-promotion and selfish ambitions. Yet humility involves being active in service and passive in self-promotion. To live like Jesus is to reject self-centeredness and embrace service toward others. Service toward others grows humility. Humility affects all areas of life, including politics. Humility reframes politics as an opportunity to serve others. It promotes unity by listening to differing viewpoints and understanding them. When we vote and interact with others, we should do so in humility, putting the interests of others above our own.

TODAY: Serving others is a great way to grow in humility and live like Jesus. We are all created, called and gifted to serve. Find your place to serve by visiting adabible.org/serving. We would love to help you find ways to serve the church and our community.

JESUS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT:

Read Ezekiel 7-8. Highlight anything that points to Jesus. Note the descriptions of God’s coming judgment. Consider how Jesus speaks of final judgment but offers salvation (John 5:24-27).