Become a servant and experience true joy

Humility is not thinking poorly of yourself. Humility is not thinking of yourself at all. Humility is the one grace that, as soon as you declare you have it, you’ve lost it. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior, the King of Kings, was a humble man. “He was a man of no reputation,” it was said. Nothing about His appearance or manner suggested divinity. The apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians that it would please him (and God as well) if the Philippians would become humble men and women, in imitation of Jesus Himself. 

Modern man is chiefly concerned with working his way up. Up the corporate ladder. Up the office pecking order. Up the social register. Jesus worked his way down. Jesus started at the top. Paul said, “He existed in the form of God.” But He didn’t cling to that position. “He did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped.” Not only did He not cling to His top spot, He emptied Himself. He cashed it in. Walked away from it all. We’re stunned when we see people at the top walk away, aren’t we? But Jesus left it all and became not only human in form--He adopted the role of a servant. Do you see it? He worked His way down. And finally, He died the death of a desperate, wicked criminal. Then God brought Him back to life, and brought Him back home to glory. Jesus emptied Himself...and God exalted Him. Can you imagine the applause in Heaven over Jesus’ return? Humility is a key to true joy. Jesus didn’t just say it...He proved it.