Recently, several people blessed Lisa and I with a gracious gift. Some of those gifting us were believers in Christ, and others were not. We were deeply touched by their expression of love and gratitude. In response, we mailed each of them a letter telling them so. In one section of the letter we wrote, “ We are strong believers that in this life we are called to humble ourselves and serve people, considering them more important than ourselves.” The letter was received well by all, but one individual felt it important to respond to us by saying that we should never consider ourselves to be less important than others. For them, the phrase we used clearly did not sit right with them. I could almost hear them thinking, “Why would anyone ever want to consider themselves less important than another person?” Perhaps the whole idea of humbling ourselves before others was bothersome to them as well. I know that the person who responded this way meant no offense, and in actuality, I believe they were looking to compliment us further.
The truth is that often the world does not know what to do with the idea of humbly seeing someone as more important than ourselves. Society seems to breed an “I’m number one” attitude and that we are entitled to whatever we can get, even if it means we have to step over (or on) a few people along the way. Unfortunately, people holding this view miss the good that comes from a humble and subservient approach to life. They don’t understand how beautiful acts of care come from those who hold this gentle and loving perspective. They can’t see how hearts are blessed when someone receives a selfless act of concern. Unfortunately, what eludes them is how much peace, patience, understanding and gratitude often comes from such acts. In short, serving others in humility because you see them as more important makes this world a softer and more palatable place.
For the believer in Christ, the call to humility and service is found all through the Bible. One such passage is:
“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 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.” Philippians 2: 1-4
For the believer they see the goodness and beauty of Jesus and want to be more like Him. They know that He:
“Who, being in very nature[a] 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[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself –“ Philippians 2: 6-9
For the Christians, the greatest good came from Christ’s willingness to humble himself, and echoes of that good come every time someone serves another in humility.
Often, there is no point in trying to explain the Christian world view or Word of Life to a non-believer. They will not comprehend it. They will find it strange. They will see us as fools. As believers, we should not be disheartened when they respond as they do. We must remember that we are strangers on this earth, for it is not our home. The ways of the world are not our ways. We speak a foreign language and behave in different ways.
Regardless, we must strive to heed the Apostle Peter’s call:
11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
We are foreigners. We are exiles. We are those called to serve. We do this always with Christ in mind, regardless if the person deserves it. After all, if Christ’s mindset was to only die on the cross for the worthy, He would never have found anyone to die for.
Rob