AMBITION, EXCELLENCE, HUMILITY, PERFECTIONISM

Humility as defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary:

: freedom from pride or arrogance : the quality or state of being humble

Humble as defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary:

: not proud or haughty : not arrogant or assertive

“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” - Philippians 2:1-11

If we are to strive to lead, serve, teach, love and live as Jesus did, we must exude humility. We must be humble, and not prideful.  To have the same mind as Christ, we must strive to do things not from selfish ambition or conceit. 

This is not to say we do not do all that we do to the best of our ability, talents, knowledge and strength. We should pursue excellence in all that we say and do.

“Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge,” - 2 Peter 1:5

“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,” - Colossians 3:23

“so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;” - Philippians 1:10

“An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, But she who shames him is like rottenness in his bones.” - Proverbs 12:4

Not to coin the phrase from the movie, Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, but we should indeed “be excellent to one another.” and we should pursue excellence but not perfectionism.

There is nothing wrong with ambition. In fact it is good, just as in the verses I shared above to pursue excellence. We should be ambitious, we should set goals, and strive to achieve them and excel in all that we do, and set out minds to. However, in the flesh, it is easy to pursue selfish ambition. When your efforts become more about you, ways of this world, or overly financial gain, that can often be selfish, and come from of source of conceit. We should think about others, just as Christ did, and does. Even more significant than ourselves.

This may not seem natural. However, was it natural for Christ to wash Judas feet, and break bread and drink wine with him at the Last Supper when Jesus knew Judas would betray Him.  Christ exuded love and humility. Although Christ prayed to the Father to have this cup pass, which was the suffering and death on the cross, Christ did ask be it God’s will, and He let God’s will be done. That was humility to a suffering, and humiliating death. So whether you are a leader, or a subordinate, whether you are a teacher or a student, whether you are a parent or a child, we must exude humility and do nothing from selfish ambition, or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than ourselves.

#Devotional #Humility #Philippians2