Philippians 2:3-7
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
Tag: The True Path for Joy
In the world’s philosophy of life, the path to joy involves accumulation, power, security and, for many, a time in the sun ... a chance for fame. Power trumps humility in today societal mores. Meekness is viewed, by most in the world, as weakness. If you want “joy”, says the world, you have to grab it while you can get it ... whatever “it” is. However, in Christianity, joy is found in a completely different philosophy. Jesus is our example. Imagine the God of the universe, uncontainable or constrained by NOTHING, willingly taking on a human body. A God never contained by time and space is suddenly constrained by the sheer limits of physical matter. Imagine the God of the universe, who created time and space, to be limited by it. Imagine the God of the universe who created food for creatures to be subjected to hunger pains. Imagine the God of the universe, who in wisdom created all things and knows ALL things having to suffer the debates with the religious leaders of the day. This is like an ant arguing with mathematics professor about algebra. Yet, he did all this. It is said, for the “joy” set before Him, He endured the cross:
Hebrews 12:2
looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Christ’s pathway to joy was serving others by way of the cross. Can we endure any suffering for others so that they can find the freedom in Christ? We are told by our world the joy comes through being comfortable. Jesus proves to us and demonstrates to us that joy comes through the obedience to God and to the joy He provides in that obedience. We all look for joy in the absence of suffering. Christ set the example for us that we have joy in suffering for Christ. Not suffering due to our own mistakes. That is not what Christ is referring to here. It is suffering by choosing to live for Him and only Him. When we choose to live for Him there will be rejection from the world around us. It will be doing things for others so that they can see Christ in our lives. It is not self absorbed but Christ absorbed. It is NOT “others” absorbed but serving Christ through our service of others. We are, in humility, serve others in order to see Christ exalted.
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