Philippians 2:1-11 | The Joy of Self-Forgetfullnes

Forget yourself by focusing on Jesus!

10 Recommendations from C.J. Mahaney’s book entitled Humility: True Greatest as summarized by Mark Driscoll, he says,

First, follow the truth wherever it leads. If it means it leads to “you’re wrong”, then follow it. If it leads to “you’re fired”, then follow it. If it leads to “that’s not what’s best for you, but it’s best for all”, then follow it. If it leads to “you need to apologize”, then follow it. Don’t defend yourself. Don’t always do what is in your best interest. Follow the truth wherever it leads.

Secondly, invite and pursue correction and council. Tell the people in your life, “I’m blind to my own blindness. I’m foolish to my own folly. I need you to confront me. I need you to rebuke me. I need you to speak the truth to me. When I’m acting like a jerk, I need you to say it. I need you to give me council because sometimes I don’t know what to do. I need correction because sometimes I say and do the wrong thing.” And receive it, don’t fight, don’t argue, don’t blame shift, don’t change the topic. Receive it.

Thirdly, learn from everyone, including your enemies and critics. Have the humility to overlook their pride. I like to say there is always a nugget of truth in even harshest and arrogant criticisms. Mind for the nuggets of truth in criticism.

Forth, repent quickly and thoroughly. Don’t force it to be an enormous issue where multiple people have to get involved and it has to become very formalized, or get all the way to church discipline and turns into something that is very painful and complicated and divisive. Don’t make someone pin you to the mat and break your arm before you tap out. Just tap. “I sinned. I was wrong. I screwed up. That was evil. I’m a jerk. That was prideful. I’m sorry.” Make it simple.

Five, seek and celebrate God’s grace at work in other Christians. God is at work in other Christians. Look for it. Encourage it. “I see God is changing you here, growing you here. I see what he’s doing through you here. I’m encouraged by this.”

Six, cultivate his spirit of thankfulness. Be thankful for people and tell them. Be thankful for God, and tell him. Proud people think they deserve everything. Humble people know they deserve hell. And anything beyond that is a real gift, and so they’re able to be thankful.

Seven, listen to scripture more than yourself. We can lie to ourselves, deceive ourselves, con ourselves, condemn ourselves, justify ourselves. Don’t listen to yourself so much. Listen to the Bible. God will speak to you truthfully through his Word.

Eight, exalt the name of Jesus in all you do. The right answer to every question is whatever makes Jesus look great, because he is. Don’t do what exalts your name. Do and say what exalts the name of Jesus. You’ll never regret that.

Ninth, laugh. Proud people cannot laugh. They’re way too serious and they can not laugh at themselves. So let me just state this. You are ridiculous. You are. You are ridiculous. I am ridiculous. And proud people can’t laugh at themselves. “Don’t you know who I am? Don’t you know how I feel? Don’t you know how that hurts?” You’re ridiculous and now you’re being even more ridiculous, because you are ridiculous and that’s funny. And you should laugh. You’re great comedic material. Don’t waste it. Redeem it.

You’re a joke, so laugh. Proud people take themselves so seriously. Humble people can laugh at themselves and find joy in knowing they are a joke and yet Christ still died for them!

And ten, sleep. Sleep like a Christian. Pursue humility, repent, exalt the name of Jesus and then go to bed and sleep. Proud people don’t sleep well. They’re wondering “What are people saying? What are people thinking? What are people doing? How will they perceive me? How will they respond to me? Will I win? Will I lose? How can I fix this issue?”

Humble people say God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble. “God, teach me humility. I’m going to bed now and I trust you to work it out when you feel it’s the right time.”

Humble people sleep differently than proud people.

Humble people experience the joy of Jesus!