New Testament - Philippians

Christ-like Attitudes
As we approach this Christmas season, I find that I am in need of an attitude adjustment. I suspect that you could use a new attitude as well. Things are overwhelming for us at this time:

Repeated, tragic terrorist events across the world

The aftermath of a war-devastated Afghanistan

The threat of war with Iraq and North Korea

The troubled economy in the United States and around the world

So many people I know with no job or a job that pays very little

Life in a sin-cursed world can easily make one despair or become cold to other people. You begin to look inward and start thinking only of yourself. You begin to think “I have so many problems of my own, I have no time for anyone else.” This is the beginning of a selfish attitude.
Jesus Christ is the only One who really has the right to be selfish. After all, He is the LORD of all. After all, He is the Creator of all things. After all, everyone really should be concerned about Him and what He wants. But Christ was not selfish. Christ did not need to enter this world for His own sake. But because of his great love for us (Romans 5:8), Christ did indeed enter this world. And God became a man.
Jesus Christ left the glory of Heaven to seek the glory of the cross.
He did this for you and for me.
Because of His great love and obedience to the will of the Father, Christ was exalted above all. And we should be concerned about Him and what He wants. His life was given not only to pay for our sins but also to give us an example to follow (Ephesians 5:1). The Bible says, “Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did” (1 John 2:6, NIV).
We are going to examine four attitudes of Christ that caused Him to leave the glory of Heaven for life on Earth. In these four attitudes, I found my own “attitude adjustment.” I pray that you also will get an “attitude adjustment.” Let us seek to have the same mind, the same way of thinking, as our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ.
Scripture: Philippians 2:4-11
Main Point: The believer is called to have the same attitude toward others as Christ, who always acted in the best interests of others.

Attitude #1 – I am willing to give up my personal rights in order to serve God fully.

(4) Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. (5) Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus… (6) Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped… (Philippians 2:4-6, NIV)

Though Christ has the very nature of God, He did not “grasp” or hold on to His position as the Supreme, All-Powerful, Sovereign God.

He willingly gave up His right to utterly rule as a King in order to become human.

He willingly left the service of angels in Heaven to come to Earth as a servant Himself.

He willingly gave up the majesty of Heaven to be born in a dusty, dirty stable in Bethlehem.

Jesus did this for you! The wonder of Christmas is that Jesus gave up Heaven for you. After all, He had a right to enjoy Heaven! He had a right to rule as King of Kings and LORD of LORDS! Yet He willingly gave up His personal rights to accomplish His mission on Earth: the salvation of your soul.
What will be your attitude when it comes to personal rights and privileges? Will you:

Willingly give you certain rights and privileges to serve others with love?

Endure personal insult in order to show kindness and patience to others?

Give up time for yourself and invest it in the lives of others?

The whole world does not revolve around you and your life! Commit yourself to the attitude of Christ. “I am willing to give up my personal rights in order to fully serve God.”

Attitude #2 – I am willing to give up my earthly glory in order to save souls.

(4) Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. (5) Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus… (7) but made himself nothing… (Philippians 2:4-5,7a, NIV)
God has a glory that never ceases, never decreases. His glory is greater than anything or anyone. God’s glory is so great it overwhelms mortal human beings.

When the Temple in Jerusalem was completed, the glory of the LORD was revealed in it. The Bible says, “the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled his temple” (1 Kings 8:11, NIV).

b. When the Prophet Isaiah was shown a vision of the LORD’s glory, he ran away screaming, “I am a dead man” (Isaiah 6:5, NIV paraphrase).

c. Once Moses, the servant of God, asked to see God’s glory. The Bible says: "(18) … Moses said, 'Now show me your glory.' (19) And the LORD said, 'I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence … (20) But,' he said, 'you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.'" (Exodus 33:18-20, NIV).

Though God possessed such overwhelming glory, He saw the great need of His people to be redeemed from sin. He chose to cover up His glory. He chose to become human like you and I. Christmas is a celebration of that time when God put a veil around His glory, the cloak of a human body. His glory was not diminished at all. It was hidden so that we could see Jesus face-to-face.
He willingly “made Himself nothing” (Philippians 2:7a, NIV). He was willing to forsake His own glory to meet us on our own level. This was necessary to accomplish His mission of salvation.
What is your attitude about the people around you who need salvation? Do you need praise from other people in order to work in God’s kingdom? Or are you willing to work without personal praise and glory in order to see people find the joy of following Christ?
Much can be accomplished in God’s kingdom when people are willing to let Jesus Christ get all the praise. “let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16, NIV). Do not worry about glory and praise for yourself. Be concerned about saving souls. This will indeed bring glory and praise to the LORD.

Attitude #3 – I am willing to give up my time in order to serve others.

(4) Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. (5) Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus… (7) …taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. (Philippians 2:4-5,7b, NIV)
Our LORD Jesus Christ has the right to rule as King over His creation. You and I are His creation. Yet Jesus took on the “very nature of a servant” (Philippians 2:7b, NIV). Jesus was willing to set aside His throne so that He could serve the will of the Father. Jesus willingly gave up His time for the Father’s work of redemption.
The amazing news is that the LORD Jesus served undeserving people. Did you deserve such love from the LORD of glory? No. Did I deserve such love from the LORD of glory? No. No one is worthy of His love.
Our need for Jesus’ love was so great. Jesus took the time to share His love with us. He took the time to share His truth with us -- truth about God, about ourselves, about life, about Heaven, Hell, sin, and salvation. Jesus shared the truth that without Him we are “dead in our transgressions and sins” (Ephesians 2:1, NIV). But Jesus also said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10, NIV). So Jesus took the time to teach us, to love us, to serve us.
Are you willing to give up your time in order to serve others? Are you willing to give up your time to serve undeserving people? Jesus gave up His time to serve others. If the King of Kings and LORD of LORDS has time for you, then you make time for Him. Make it your goal to serve others with the love and message of Christ.
Serving Christ by serving others takes commitment. Jesus says to each one of us, “Come, follow Me” (Matthew 4:19, NIV). And, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:57-62, NIV).
Choose the best. Choose to serve others in the name of Christ.

Attitude #4 – I am willing to give up even my life in order to love others.

(4) Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. (5) Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus… (8) And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:4-5,8, NIV)
We have many soldiers on the battlefield that are risking their life for you and I. There is no greater love, as Jesus said: “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13, NIV). And many others put their lives at risk for us – policemen, firemen, rescue workers of all types.
Sometimes ordinary people risk their lives to save others. Just the other day, I heard about a man who saw a drunk driver swerving toward a baby carriage. He ran to the carriage and pushed it out of the way. The car struck him instead, killing him instantly. The man did not know whose baby was in the carriage. He simply loved the unknown child with his very life.
Jesus was willing to give up the glory of Heaven, His right to rule as King, and His precious time. He was even willing to give up His very life for you. The Christmas season reminds us of this fact. Think about it -- if you were the only person on Earth who had sinned, Jesus would still have come to this Earth. He still would have died on that cross even if it were only for you!
The LORD may not give you the privilege of being a martyr. He may not require your death so that another may live. But He requires that you be willing to do so. More likely our LORD will require that you love certain people over a long period of time. He most likely will require that you be patient with someone who still resists God. He most likely calls you to suffer injustice and hardship so that others may hear and understand the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Suffer long. Patiently wait. Love others with your very life. That was the attitude of Christ. That is to be your attitude

Conclusion
As Christ perfectly carried out the will of the Father, He humbled Himself as a servant. He demonstrated these four attitudes in serving others. His faithfulness was not in vain.
(9) Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, (10) that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, (11) and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
There is great reward for having the same attitude toward others as Christ à exaltation! God will lift up the one who humbles himself before God by serving others (James 4:10). Christ will reward your work of faith:
(12) “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. (13) I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. (Revelation 22:12-13, NIV)
When Jesus comes again, be sure He finds in you a new attitude. “Serve one another in love (Galatians 5:13, NIV).

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© Copyright 2/20/2003, Randy Lariscy.