Imitating Christ's Humility
The great admonition of the apostle Paul in Philippians 2:5: "Let this mind be in you, which also was in Christ Jesus," looks back to the first chapter, verse 27: "Only let your conversation be as it becometh the Gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel." This like-mindedness must be a common bond between Christ and the Christian and among Christians. "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (1 Corinthians 1:10). This produces the similarity of love (Ephesians 5:2) and the being one in spirit and in purpose (Ephesians 4:3-6).
A rare claim made for himself was given in Matthew 11:29 when Christ described himself as "meek and lowly." In this, too, then we should be imitators of Him, "For even hereunto were we called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps" (1 Peter 2:21). There was no selfish ambition with Jesus, "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men" (Phil. 2:6, 7). Humility and love has much in common then, since "love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up" (1 Corinthians 13:5); therefore when one considers others before and above himself, he has both love and humility. This is not some false pretended humility, but having the mind of Christ; it therefore is far from self-mutilating, self-depraving, self-centered thought and activity. Instead it is taking into consideration others "...Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble" (1 Peter 5:5).
When one seeks to imitate the humility of Christ, one discovers that this one quality of character absolutely necessary to obedience. "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." (Phil. 2:8). The writer of Proverbs warns of the dangers surrounding the antithesis of humility -- pride. "Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18). On the other hand, humility recognizes the inability to be self-sufficient spiritually and for eternity. "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Phil. 2:12, 13). Thus, Jesus set forth, "Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:4).
To imitate Christ in humility means to yield totally to God's will (Phil. 2:8), even "unto death" (Rev. 2:10). "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time..." (1 Peter 5:5).
From Our Archives, 1984
By: Oran Rhodes