Last week, Queen Elizabeth II passed away. I really admired the way that she presented herself as I heard stories of her life. She seemed to live very humbly. One example I heard that impressed me was how the Queen went to Ireland to try and iron out some problems between England and Ireland for many years. Her view was to “not look backwards but to live a life looking forward.” Queen Elizabeth also served in the military, even though she was the queen of England. Getting her “hands dirty” was something that she was not afraid to do. If something needed done, she did it with no shame. She did not allow her rank to stop her from waving and greeting even common people, not just royalty.
Philippians 2:1-11 says:
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.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature[a] 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[b] 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.Philippians 2:1-11 NIV
When I heard of her passing and learned more about her life; I remembered these verses in Philippians chapter two. I heard that she knew Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior and that she is now in heaven. As I look through these verses, several points really stand out to me, for my life and for all people, especially those who know Christ as their Lord and Savior. More respect is earned by those who build unity, not those who tear others down. I see more “tearing down” than ever before. This is not how to build unity. Unity comes about when people are humble, not proud. Here are some good points from these verses.
Build Unity Through:
Common sharing
Tenderness and Compassion
Be like-minded, Have:
Same Love,
One Spirit
One Mind
And, Don’t raise yourself up higher than others!
BUT…
Value other people before yourself!
Being humble means recognizing that we are not on earth to see how important we can become, but to see how much difference we can make in the lives of others.
-Gordon B. Hinckley
Do For Others
How do we do this? We look at what benefits other people and what is important to them first, not to ourselves! Somehow, this just does not remind me of our culture today, and especially not leadership in western culture.
So, who does Paul use as the very best example of humility? Jesus, of course! And why does he use Jesus as the best example?
First, by nature, He was God. Jesus is part of the trinity which equates Himself to God and the Holy Spirit. But, even though he could have flaunted and taken advantage of His station and position; Jesus did not take advantage of who He was and who He belonged to.
Often, we “brag” about who we are. We may not do this verbally, but in the way that we act. I see this sometimes in churches, communities, and social settings. Clergy vs Laity comes out at times in churches, it seems. In other words, those who professionally serve in churches or ministries will act as though they have more spirituality than those who do not work professionally in a church setting. This disturbs me. When God called us to serve Him, He called us all, whether as a paying job or not. None of us are better than another and God does not prefer one over another.
Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned about what is right.
Ezra T. Benson
In communities and social circles, money talks loud! Clout and political positions are recognized at times as more important than someone who does not have as much or does not serve in a political role. Certainly, in our current government in the United States, people in specific roles do not suffer the consequences of others who do the same or even not close to the wrong that another person does.
Because Of Jesus
But, Jesus made Himself nothing! He was a common man who did not look like anyone different from another man. He didn’t wear a different type of clothes or live in a nicer home. He lived as a servant! Jesus was known to wipe feet and feed people and heal. Eventually, He was taken to the cross, after being beaten! That doesn’t sound like someone extraordinary, does it? No, of course not! He lived humbly and most people never knew who He was and the Jews of today don’t even believe that He came. They expected their Messiah to be different than who He actually was. So, Jesus looked like a man, acted like a servant and was obedient even to death on the cross! This does not sound like a proud person, but one who lived a humble life.
True humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less.
-C.S. Lewis
So Christ Is Honored
As a result, as we read in verses nine through eleven, Jesus was exalted! He was lifted up by His Father, God. Then, He was given a name above all and every knee will bow and every tongue will acknowledge who He is - Lord, to the glory of God, the Father!
This is quite an honor that Christ was given, all because He was willing to be humble, be a person, a servant, then die for each person on the earth! Regardless of whether they believe Him or not, He still died! However, one day, they will acknowledge who He is! Even atheists and agnostics. Also, those who worship idols, and live according to other religious teachings that do not believe and teach who God and Jesus are and what Jesus did for each of us. Many do not believe that this will happen. They believe that they can do what they want. They can, but eternity is at stake for each of us. Is pride that important, that it’s worth spending eternity away from God, from Christ?
Humility really is the best way to live!