“Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. . . . He humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.” Philippians 2:6-8 (NLT)
Happiness comes from harmony, and harmony comes from humility. And if I want to be humble, I have to learn to ask myself this question: “What would Jesus do?”
What would Jesus do in this problem? What would Jesus do for that person who’s hurting? What would Jesus do at the office? On the golf course? In your marriage?
Ask this question, and I'll always come up with a humble answer that builds harmony and happiness rather than difficulty, defeat, bitterness, and resentment.
So what does it look like to act like Jesus? Philippians 2 provides three examples:
Don’t demand what I think I deserve. “Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to” (Philippians 2:6 NLT).
It is countercultural to give up my right to something? There’s a better way to get my needs met than demanding my rights. I can be tender without surrender, and I can be understanding without demanding.
Look for ways that I can serve. “Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being” (Philippians 2:7 NLT).
If I want to be like Jesus, I'm going to have to learn to serve. Serving is a habit I can develop. And it starts not in the big things in life, but in the little things. God tests my humility every day in the little things, and then it’s shown in the big things. Character is revealed in the great crises of life, but it’s built in the little day-to-day things, like returning the grocery cart to the cart corral.
Do what’s right, even when it’s painful. “He humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8 NLT).
This is what it means to act like Jesus. What did Jesus do, even when he was in pain? He was understanding, not demanding of what he deserved. He looked for ways to serve. And he was a servant in every situation.
Jesus is the ultimate model of humility, and God gave him the greatest honor in the universe. God honors my humility, as well, when I follow Jesus’ example.
In summary:
This passage from Philippians 2 highlights the profound humility and voluntary self-emptying of Jesus Christ, who chose to surrender His divine privileges to serve humanity and obey God, even unto death on a cross. The accompanying commentary bridges this ultimate theological example with daily life, arguing that true happiness and relational harmony are direct byproducts of adopting this Christlike humility. By shifting my mindset away from demanding my rights and toward everyday acts of service and painful obedience, I can transition from self-preservation to an intentional, character-driven lifestyle honored by God.
Bottom Line:
True harmony and personal character are built when I stop defending my rights and start choosing the countercultural path of humble service and obedience.
Next Step:
Identify one specific area this week—whether a regular friction point in a relationship, a frustrating dynamic at the office, or a routine daily task—where I feel tempted to demand my rights or status, and deliberately choose a hidden act of service instead. Framing this around disciplined action, remember that my identity is already secure in Christ; therefore, I do not need to fight for my preferences, which allows me to focus on building sustainable habits of humility in the smallest, unglamorous moments of my day.
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