3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
6 Though he was God,[a]
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges[b];
he took the humble position of a slave[c]
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,[d]
8 he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
-Philippians 2:3-8 (NLT)he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges[b];
he took the humble position of a slave[c]
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,[d]
8 he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
We have been studying the past several days about walking as Jesus walked and living in the light of the love of God. This principle is one that we must understand and apply to our lives. If we are going to walk as Jesus walked, and live in the light of God's love, then we must change our attitude. Our attitude determines if we walk as Jesus walked and if we live the the light of the love of God. How is your attitude today? Paul gives us a glimpse of the attitude of a true follower of Jesus Christ.
Verses 3-4 says, "Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too." Do these words express your attitude toward yourself and others? Paul tells us not to be selfish, not to try and impress others, not to look to our own interests. These things point to ourselves and puts the spotlight on us and our works. Think about it. How often do we try to impress others? Whether it is at work, at home, at school or even at church, we try to impress others, we look out for ourselves, we are selfish. This must not be so. Instead, we need to look at the positive qualities found in these verses. We must be humble, think of others more highly than ourselves and we must take an interest in others. These qualities put the spotlight on others and points to others. When was the last time you looked out for the interest of others, or put others needs ahead of your own?
Paul says in verse 5, "You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had." We must look at things, and think about things, through the mind of Christ. Was Jesus selfish? No. Did Jesus try to impress others? No. Did He look only to His own interests? No. If Jesus didn't do these things, then why do we, His followers, think this way? In verses 7-8, Paul gives us a glimpse into the attitude of Christ."Instead, he gave up his divine privileges, he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross." Wow! What an example of a humble spirit. Twice in these verses do we find the word humble. Is that your attitude today? Jesus "humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross." The Creator of the world, died a criminal's death. Jesus put aside all the privileges of being the Creator of this world to die for you and me. And we will not humble ourselves to do His will in our lives. Think About It.
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