Subjection as a servant means I will be subservient to you)
“…he humbled himself….” (Phil. 2:8)
This is different from being humbled by an outside party – this is choosing to humble yourself. After I have identified with you, the good, bad, and the ugly, I am choosing to not make myself higher than you, but lower. It’s remarkable:
“I know your imperfections. I know your shortcomings. I know your warts. And still, I choose to humble myself to the person I am serving.”
The disciple of Christ following the example of Christ says “I am choosing to be lower than you.” What is lower? You will only know after identification has taken place.
It has nothing to do with intellect, income, or position. Jesus humbled himself to all, regardless of their social status. He associated with the lowly and found great joy in it. He wasn’t concerned about hob-knobbing with the uppity-ups of Jewish high life. He cared more about the unknown widow.
It’s genuinely saying:
You’re in the forefront – I’m in the background.
You’re in the driver’s seat – I’m in the backseat.
You’re being recognized – I’m looking for the backdoor.
It’s a mentality that looks to promote others and allow yourself to remain in relative obscurity. I live for you. That type of mentality denies self more and more to the point where there is so little of self left that all that’s left is Christ.
- I’m ok with you getting the promotion
- I want you to succeed in your relational pursuits
- I want you to thrive in God’s plan for your life.
Practically speaking we can see this in places like 1 Thess. 5:13….
“And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.”
It’s the peace of leaving the circumstances of life in the hands of a sovereign God.
After Jesus subjected himself, he sacrificed himself. Read about that important step, here.