"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 (NIV)
Humility is the opposite of pride and it is the heart and mindset of our Lord.
It wasn’t that He wasn’t of more value than all of humanity combined.
He surely is worth far more than all of us combined.
It was that He valued us above Himself.
That’s humility in a nutshell and that is opposite to the heart and mindset that I was born with.
My sinful natural self considers me the most valuable person on the highway, at the ice rink, in our home – wherever I am present with other people.
Our natural self loves being in the spotlight, lifted up above others and valued above others.
We want to be appreciated, valued and honoured.
Love became a man and walked on the earth.
This man Jesus who is love personified, valued others above Himself, left His place of honour and joined the sinners and the broken in order that He might help them.
To value others above yourself is an act of your will, it is an act of love.
This has implications in our family lives, a strong marriage is only as strong as to the extent both spouses value the other spouse above themselves.
Paul however is not speaking to spouses in these verses – he is speaking to Christians attending a local church together.
Think of Parkdale for a moment - think of the people you see on a Sunday or during the week- will we value them more than we value ourselves?
Humility is the opposite of pride and it is the heart and mindset of our Lord.
Is it our mindset in Parkdale?
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