In ministry and our daily walk in the community, God calls us to emulate Jesus and His life lived while on the Earth. Jesus Christ’s teachings, parables, and actions have transcended time and culture, offering profound wisdom and guidance in all facets of life, and one of the most enduring and impactful lessons He imparted was the virtue of humility. As we embark on our journey in ministry, we are called to emulate Christ’s example of humility, for it is in the selfless act of serving others with a heart devoid of pride that we truly reflect the essence of His teachings and bring light to a world yearning for compassion and grace. Paul guides us to this teaching as we look at Philippians.
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so 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.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Php 2:1–11.
Many Christians have taken upon the worldview that everything around us is evil and the people inside the church are good (mostly), which has caused many followers of Christ to stop emulating Christ and instead isolate their friend groups and create “Christian” echo chambers. However, should we find inspiration in the teachings of Philippians 2, where the Apostle Paul imparts a powerful message about emulating Christ’s humility, then we have to start dumping out the buckets that we put people in and start living differently. This passage calls us to adopt the same attitude Christ Jesus exemplified during His earthly ministry. This attitude is characterized by selflessness, humility, and a willingness to serve others above oneself. It is a guiding principle for every aspect of our lives, including how we approach our faith and ministry.
Emulating Christ’s humility begins with profoundly recognizing our limitations and shortcomings. Just wearing the name of Christ does not lift us higher than someone, but rather we are in need of salvation because sin plagues all of us. Just as Christ, who being in the very nature of God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage, we must also recognize that our status or position should not be wielded for selfish gain. Instead, we are called to empty ourselves of pride and ambition, taking on the form of a servant. This mirrors Christ’s willingness to take on human form and serve humanity through His life, death, and resurrection.
In the realm of ministry, applying this humility is particularly significant. A reformed Christian understands that ministry is not about personal recognition or accolades but about selflessly serving God’s people and sharing Christ’s love and salvation. It means prioritizing the needs of others above our own, just as Christ gave Himself on the cross for our redemption. In this way, we honor Christ’s example of humility by embodying it in our ministry, leading with love, compassion, and a genuine desire to serve and uplift those we are called to shepherd. In essence, Christ gave us a timeless blueprint to follow as we strive to walk in the footsteps of our humble Savior in every facet of our lives, including our sacred calling to ministry, especially in the community we live.
Horizon Community Church 