So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:1–11 ESV
The last post was about how every sin we commit is motivated by selfishness. As I mentioned I came to this conclusion after years of this idea “brewing in my brain”. Sin is pervasive. It is so powerful, deadly! Sin’s root is in our treasuring anything above God and His glory. I see selfishness as the “nutrient” that feeds that root.
We know that the penalty of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ. We also know that the wrath of God will be righteously poured out on those whose sins are not covered by His Son’s blood.
AND when we are glorified and in heaven, we will be free from the presence of sin, the effects of sin, the poison that sin is will be vanquished. BUT until that day, is it possible to diminish the power of sin? Can we who are, by faith, trusting God to apply Christ Jesus’ blood to our sin, in the process of our sanctification, sin less? IF so, how do we do it?
The passage above begins with the statement “if there is any…” knowing that Christ is where we find encouragement, comfort, participation, affection and sympathy it almost seems rhetorical . Paul then says that his joy would be complete if those reading the letter were unified in their thinking and affections. Then he gives them direction to live this out. “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit” and instead live in “humility” counting others more significant than ourselves and look not to our own interests, but the interests of others.
So if we are going to starve sin we need to count others more significant than ourselves and to do this with a spirit of humility. Some time back I was studying the Westminster Confession of Faith and the author of the book talked about humility not being a lowering of ourselves, or a meekness that resembles a doormat; but instead it means “seeing the world and ourselves as God does.” So if I am seeing myself and the world as God does, it must be viewed through the lens scriptures because that is where God has revealed Himself. For me to starve sin I need to see God as He has revealed Himself (see the attributes of God), see myself in light of the scriptures (see the letter to the Romans chapters one through three), and see the world as described throughout the scriptures.
- God is Holy and Righteous in all His ways.
- I am undone in my sin.
- The world is broken by sin.
Now I can begin to begin to put others ahead of myself, as I know what it took for God to save me from my sin, (see the crucifixion of Christ Jesus).
With humility I can forgive others because I have been forgiven more.
With humility I can show mercy to others because of how desperate I am for God’s mercy.
Humility is the spirit that can empower me to battle my selfishness. When I consider my own interests, I have exalted myself. When I consider others’ interests above my own God with exalt me. (see Matthew 23:12)
So my day will start with God’s attributes so I can move through my day in humility and then care about others before myself. Then perhaps, just perhaps, this is the first step to starve sin by not feeding it with my selfishness.