Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
This passage of scripture exhorts us to look to Jesus as our great exemplar in the way we think and act, especially in the area of humility. Human pride is antagonistic to humility, and is easily wounded on account of our inherent disposition of not wanting to yield our rights. When a decision was needed in order to secure our eternal salvation, Christ is the one who voluntarily laid aside His kingly crown to become a willing and obedient servant, and He obeyed even unto death, as the above passage clearly shows. Not only was this a reversal of roles, but it was something new that Jesus had to learn, just like every member of the human family. Let's read:
Hebrews 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.
If the CEO of a large corporation has to step down from his exalted post to become an ordinary worker in blue jeans for the same company, human nature will naturally recoil from the reversal of roles because of the inherent pride and love of distinction we are born with. During the recent financial meltdown, the president of a large corporation realized that because of bad investments and plummeting profits, he would need to drastically scale back his opulent lifestyle and possibly shutter the company because of the great recession. But rather than do this and be humiliated in the eyes of his peers, he instead remained in his executive office one day, after everyone else had left and shot himself to death. His cold lifeless body was discovered the following morning.
As Christians we are cautioned no to indulge or cultivate pride and self-exaltation, for these are the traits of character which brought sin into the universe. Lucifer was not satisfied with his exalted position in heaven and therefore he led a rebellion against God, that ultimately cost him everything that God had given to him. In our day we are in danger of harboring different strains of the same disease, for we live in an environment that fosters pride and love of display to an alarming extent, and if we do not keep Christ ever before our faces, we are in danger of imperceptibly subscribing to the norms which govern the secular world.
For this reason we are going to end this brief presentation, with a caution and instruction from the word of God so that we do not inadvertently be ensnared in the many temptations to indulge pride and love of approbation, in any of their varied forms. Let's read:
1st John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
May we ever bear this counsel in mind, asking God to change us from the inside out, into His own glorious image. God bless!