A Place of Honor

“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3

I grew up with four older brothers. Around my house, everything was a competition. Although the need to impress one another diminished somewhat over time, every once in a while it would rear its ugly head. (Like the time one of my brothers challenged the others to jump in an ice-cold creek in the dead of winter.) 

A little friendly competition can be harmless enough, but the bible tells us not to impress others for selfish reasons. In contrast, we should be humble and think of others as better than ourselves. 

Humility doesn’t mean putting yourself down, it just means assuming a lower posture so that someone else can be lifted up. It’s freedom from pride or arrogance. 

Jesus was the ultimate example when it comes to humility. “Though he was God,” according to Philippians 2, “he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.”

Because Jesus chose a lower posture to lift up others, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names. 

When you choose humility over pride or arrogance, others will be lifted up and God will elevate you to a place of honor.