The Same Mindset as Christ

Philippians chapter two is a great chapter and I would like to reflect on some of the key verses in the passage.

2:3-7 - "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.⁵ In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: ⁶ Who, being in very nature God,  did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; ⁷ rather, he made himself nothing  by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness."

There is a lot of talk about equality today. Yes, we are all equal before God, but we are not to use this to our advantage. We are valued by God, but we are to value others above ourselves. We are not to look to our own interests but to the interests of others. We are to make ourselves nothing.

This verse flies in the face of our self centered and individualistic society. These words go against the sinful nature and the flesh of man. Pride stands in the way. Some of us may have attained these verses in relation to those we love, but what about those who hate us. I have been reading the book Voice of the Martyrs. There are numerous examples of these verses being played out in the lives of those being martyred for Christ. When we as a church get a hold of this verse, there will no longer be any jealousy, back biting, anger, or hate. The social, physical and spiritual needs of all would be met.This verse in practice would probably resolve almost every problem in the local church today.

2:9 - "Therefore God exalted him to the highest place  and gave him the name that is above every name"

If we take this attitude of Christ, we will be exalted by Christ. Let us not seek to exalt ourselves, but exalt others. Christ became poor that we might be rich. Christ made himself nothing that we would become something in him.

We hear often how it is important that we have a good self-image. Yet, the Bible teaches that we are not to have any self-image whether good or bad. We are only to have a Christ image. If we have a Christ image, we will have a right image of ourselves.