Humble Unity

A man, down on his luck, went into a church which catered to the rich. Spotting the man's dirty clothes a deacon, worried about the churches image, went to the man and asked him if he needed help. The man said, "I was praying and the Lord told me to come to this church.”  The deacon suggested that the man go pray some more and possibly he might get a different answer. The next Sunday the man returned. The deacon asked, "Did you get a different answer?"  The man replied, "Yes I did. I told the Lord that they don't want me in that church and the Lord said, 'Don't worry about it son; I've been trying to get into that church for years and haven't made it yet."

That’s a clever joke, but has some truth in it.  Sometimes in our attempt to be the good Christians, we do the opposite of what Christ asks us to do: fail to practice humility.  When it comes to humility, my struggle is showing love to older folks who should “know better.”  I’ve bought into the lie that I can have anything I want if I study hard enough, and therefore, I should have my elder’s job if I can outscore him on an IQ test.

I think a lot of people are like me.  People who struggle with some sort of prejudice.  We have preferential treatment for others of our kind. We want options because we want something that is tailored to our tastes.  Wikipedia says that there are 36,000 church denominations; over 11 different kinds within 2 miles of me.  Sometimes it’s good to have options, but our freedom requires a burden of responsibility.  Without humility we have church wars, and one group feels that they are the "real deal," while everyone else is wrong.

What about the early Church?  Did they have that problem?  Referring back to Acts 16 we see that the first church in Philippi was a comprised of slave, soldier and business owner.  They were a diverse group of people who didn’t have the choice of going to the Lutheran church across the street, so they had to make it work.  But how?  How do you get selfish, arrogant people to get along?  Paul’s answer is found in Phil 2:1-11.

            Remember the joy you feel as a Child of God (vs 1). 

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


Remember that selfishness hurts your brothers and sisters (vs 2-4)

then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.  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. 


Remember how you obtained that status (vs 6-8). 

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

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 by taking the very nature 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!


Remember that your Leader not only deserves your allegiance due to power, but also due to His willingness to lay down that power (vs 9-11).

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

It’s amazing to think that Jesus chose to use humility instead of power.  I’m not like Him.  I daydream of using power to validate my cause, and wish a thousand angels would obey my command to rid the world of evil.  Jesus had the power to rid the world of evil, but instead, He allowed evil to crucify Him on a cross.  Why would He do that?  Why would He submit to His Father?

Love.  Jesus knew that His father knew best.  Jesus knew that the temporary suffering was worth the glory His actions would bring His Father.  Jesus knew that there was only one way to save us.   Jesus knew we needed an example to follow.

So follow His example.  Let your humility lead to obedience, and remember that He is the only person who knows best anyways.  There is only one person who proved Himself faithful when deciding to lead by example instead of power.  There is one person who defines love.  Jesus.