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More Humility
Brian Mashburn
February 4, 2007
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Now Let's Look At You
Paul had a Bible. He knew it from front to back. And he probably wasn't aware that the letter he was writing to his buddies in Philippi would be tacked onto the end of that Bible just a few short centuries later and considered equally sacred by millions and millions to come. How humbled he would have been to think that he was joining the ranks of Moses, David, Isaiah and others as authors of Holy Writ.
In what we now call "Chapter 2" of this personal correspondence, and after beginning to candidly identify the church's problems, Paul offers up the ultimate solution. He says, "in humility, consider others better than yourselves." (vs. 3) and "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: who...humbled himself" (vs. 5 & 8).
I wonder, as Paul was prescribing this, if texts from his Bible, written by the likes of Moses, David and Isaiah popped into his head...texts like...
"Seek humility."
"With humility comes wisdom."
"Humility comes before honor."
"God saves the humble."
"Humility brings life."
"Moses was more humble than anyone on the earth."
"If my people will humble themselves then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
As Paul penned the words of chapter 2, I imagine Paul shaking his head, humbly, as he reflected on his proud life, now laid down. And now his new life that has found him with so much wisdom, honor, life, forgiveness and healing...just like his Bible promised, once humility was sought.
He would later write to his ministry partner Titus, instructing him to do what Philippians calls me to do for you today: "Remind the people to show true humility toward all men."