Philippians 2

Here in chapter two we have another well-known verse: "Do nothing out of selfish ambition, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves" (vs 3).

Paul isn't simply suggesting that we do something nice for others every once in awhile. No, this is a command which is to characterize our lives! And he points to the greatest example ever given, the God-man Jesus Christ. Paul says Jesus "made himself nothing," taking the form of a human being, and humbling himself to the point of a gruesome death on the cross—a death which he did not deserve.

We are to walk in a manner such as this. Humbling ourselves to the point of "dying" to our own interests for the sake of elevating the interests of others above our own. And we are to live so that this way of life is evident to those around us.

Now how in the world can we possibly do that, all the time?! I mean, often enough I do that for the people I like. And sometimes I do it for people I don't like, but it's usually still about my best interests because I do it to appear more holy and so feel better about myself. But to count all others more significant than me, always?

Verse 5 says, "have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus." There's the answer. On our own we can't possibly live that way. We cannot possibly genuinely put others before ourselves. But if we have the same mind as Christ—in other words if we are abiding in Christ, walking with him, present with him—then we will be able to walk in humility and look to the interests of others before our own.