Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped….

           Let’s think about humility—or being humble. Humility is a difficult quality to grasp. We are exhorted all through Scripture to be humble. We know what it looks like. Or what acts of humility look like. But how will we or how do we know we have achieved the characteristic of humility? I mean, once we know we are humble…we are not. (We may have to think about that one a minute.) What I do know is humility is realized in our relationships with others.

           Allow me to go way out on a limb here. Way out. A hypothetical. And my intent is not to be irreverent or to commit a sacrilege. But if we could be in charge of the entire universe for just one hour, what would we do? What would we seek to accomplish if we were in God’s role?

           John Vincent was one of my early examples of humbleness. He once brought me face to face with my own lack of it. John was the Youth Director at the Brooklyn Center Baptist Church. He was also a fairly good auto mechanic. He came to us from Texas. He once took a group of us to a missions conference in Illinois—on the campus of the University of Illinois. It was a good conference. Very spiritual and inspiring. Several thousand young people from all over the United States. Good speakers. It took place in January.

           Anyway, time came to go home. The day we left was very cold. Below zero cold. We were on our way out of the parking lot, and there was a van that seemed to be saying to its driver, “Leave me alone” each time the driver tried to get the van started. The van had southern plates. Not used to cold weather starting. We stopped. John helped get the vehicle running. It just needed a jump. We resumed our journey and made it about two blocks. Another van—southern plates—that was having difficulty firing its engine. I was among those in our van—and upon later reflection, I have a hard time believing this—but I was among those who urged John to keep going. We had already done our good deed. Let someone else help. As I said, not one of our finest hours. But at the time, we just wanted to get home. John stopped. He knew what it was like to be from the south and in cold weather. This one took more work. John got it going.

           We were on our way again. It wasn’t one mile later. And wouldn’t you know? Still another van motionless on the side of the road. Not only was this one stalled, it had a flat tire. And wouldn’t you further know? John pulled over to help. A few audible groans. While some of us were watching the clock, he gave no thought to the time. He simply asked us how we would feel if we were on the side of the road and other vehicles whose occupants were thinking of their comfort and schedules passed by. John told us he could deal with our being a bit irritated. But he just couldn’t pass by.

           So what’s the big deal with all this? Well, all these years later, I still remember. A life lesson learned. I remember an attitude of pride—and the feeling that went with it. And I remember John’s example of humble service—his being able to identify and putting himself in another’s position—his putting the need of another before his own interests. John wore a towel around his waist that day.

           We read from the book of Philippians. In the first chapter, Paul talked about how that church brought him great joy. And he urged the Philippians to stand firm and to contend as one person for the faith of the gospel. Contend as one person.

           We read the beginning of the second chapter. The passage begins with an if…then statement. “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete….” The church had already brought Paul much joy. But there was a way they could make that joy complete. And that was by being like-minded, unified in love, and humble—no selfish ambition—but looking out for the interests of others. In other words, Paul was saying, have the same attitude Jesus had.

           Having Jesus’ attitude. That would complete Paul’s joy. And what comes next is one of the great descriptions of Jesus. If you ever want to describe Jesus for someone, just quote this passage. Jesus was in very nature God. Jesus was God—with skin. Yet…Jesus did not take advantage of his equality with God. Instead, he emptied himself. He took on the nature of a servant. He exchanged the nature of God for the nature of a servant. He became like us. He was humble and obedient. Obedient to death. Not just any death, either—but death on a cross. It was then that God exalted Jesus. Have that attitude, Paul said. The attitude of Jesus.

           You know, our faith has many symbols. Bread, for example—a symbol for the body of Christ. The chalice—a symbol for the blood of Jesus. There is probably the number one symbol of our faith. A cross. We have crosses in our churches. People wear crosses. The cross identifies us with Jesus—even in his death.

           Allow me to suggest another symbol. This one doesn’t get much attention. A towel. A towel. I was in a meeting once, and the leader was leading in devotions. She was talking about symbols of our faith, and she asked us to name some of them. I mentioned the towel. She asked what I meant. I have known a few people who signed their letters and emails with, “Peace and towels.” What does it mean? John, chapter thirteen. It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew his time was near. And then we read these words, “Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.” The full extent of his love. What did he do next? He got up from the meal and took off his outer clothing and wrapped a towel around his waist. And in a great act of humility (humiliation in the eyes of some in that room), he washed his disciples’ feet. The towel. Jesus who came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

           I asked a moment ago what we would do if for one hour we were somehow in charge of all things, the role of God—with all that power. A mute point, really. Probably a dumb question. But I was thinking it would be nice to create a cure for cancer or end all disease or wipe out poverty or send hurricanes back where they came from or end war or any one of a number of things.

           Our text declares that Jesus was equal with God—and for more than just one day. What did Jesus do? He laid it all aside. He did not take advantage of his equal-with-God status—not for one moment—not even while he hung on that cross. He emptied himself. He took on our humanity. He made himself less. In fact, he made himself nothing. From the nature of God to the nature of a servant. Jesus identified with us. He wrapped a towel around his waist and became a servant. Humble. Humiliation. Jesus thought of us always—before he thought of himself.

           That was Paul’s exhortation. As a community of faith, we contend as one for the gospel. And we do nothing out of selfish ambition. In humility, we consider others as better than ourselves. In other words, we have the same attitude Jesus had. What a powerful thought. It all begins with attitude.

           You know, when I was a child, I often heard a warning. It came mostly from my mother. Many of you perhaps heard it, too. I would act up from time to time. In other words, I would misbehave. I would act outside the rules. I would sometimes act outside the rules because I did not like the rules. At those times, my mother had a concern that went beyond my behavior. She worried about my attitude. So she would say, “You had better change your attitude young man.”

           Now, I am not much of a scientific, technical kind of thinker. But you know one of the technical definitions of the word attitude? Pilots would know. Attitude is a term used when describing the position of an object in relationship to a specific frame of reference. Well—when it comes to our attitude—Jesus is our frame of reference.

           Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped….