(part 2 of 2)
“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, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.”
Philippians 2:5-7
What does it mean to become “nothing”? Does it mean that we allow ourselves to be ignored, overlooked or unappreciated? No! However, true servant hood does not begin until we are willing to “make ourselves nothing.”
In Philippians 2 the phrase “made himself nothing” is translated from the Greek word- kenosis- which means to empty oneself. Jesus voluntarily laid aside His position, His glory, rights and riches. He let go of his privileges in or to be a servant to others. The idea of giving up what rightfully belongs to us in order to serve others is foreign in our cultural and is most of our marriages. How do I know? Consider this:
How many of you would drop what you are doing to go pick up a friend or family member whose car broke down, but wouldn’t miss two minutes of your favorite TV show to take the trash out for your wife?
How many of you surge into action to take your kids to dance, soccer, or band practice, but when your husband asks you for a drink of water respond… “Are your legs broke?”
To be like Christ requires us to “make ourselves nothing.” That isn’t natural. In fact, the idea of serving is almost a supernatural concept. That’s because this type of serving is sacrificial. If it doesn’t cost us something, it isn’t really a sacrifice…and I would argue is it really serving?
Gary Thomas wrote… “The beauty of marriage is that it confronts our selfishness and demands our service 24 hours a day.”
Most people do not enter marriage with the expectation of serving. For many it is a means of meeting a need in their own life which, consequently, minimizes marriage to a selfish pursuit. Marriage, more so, is a daily opportunity to put Philippians 2:3-4 into practice:
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
Do nothing out of selfish ambition! Look to the interest of others! Start at home! Empty yourself, so that you can be a servant to your spouse and so God may be glorified.
(This marriage series was developed from principles taken from the book “Sacred Marriage” by author Gary Thomas.)
Pastor Scott Burr
http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com
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