Daily Devotionals

Campfire Stories: Week 4 - Friday

Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. Philippians 2:3-4

"I'm king of the world!", Leonardo DiCaprio's character, Jack Dawson, exclaims as he is on board of the British passenger line, the 'Titanic' in the 1997 movie 'Titanic,' appropriately named after the ship. Little does he know what tragedy is about to come upon him and everyone on board of this ship. This movie is based on the real-life sinking of the 'Titanic.' Proclaimed to be "the unsinkable ship," the 'Titanic' shocked the world when it hit an iceberg and sunk. Because no one expected the ship to sink, there were not enough lifeboats to distribute, and "the unsinkable ship" was ill-prepared to face hitting an iceberg and sinking. As a result, many people tragically lost their lives on this luxury passenger liner. Pride kept the ship's owners from accepting the possibility that the ship could sink. Had they known that there was possibility for sinking, there would have been enough lifeboats for the entire ship. The ship's crew members and passengers would have been better prepared for the Titanic's sinking. The sinking of the 'Titanic' is a very visual reminder that pride will ultimately lead to our downfall. Knowing the tragic results of pride, God calls His people to live in humility.

In the book of Micah, amidst the sin of the Israelites, Micah declares that God has shown what He requires of His people. First, he explains that God requires justice. Next, he states that God calls his people to live with kindness. Finally, Micah adds a third characteristic: humility.

The best example of humility is found in Jesus. The Apostle Paul knew this and encouraged the early church in Philippi to follow the attitude that they saw in Jesus. He put the interest of others before His own, became a servant, and endured the cross. He traded heaven for this human experience so we could forever be restored to the Father.

In our world where "it's all about me," God calls us to live differently. He calls for humility. Humility involves admitting mistakes, valuing God's opinion over our own, and seeing the value of other people. In other words, humility is adopting the mindset that "it's not about me." To the world, humility does not make sense. It is strange and counter-cultural. For the follower of God, a humble mindset should be normal. After all, God is the one who has provided us with every good gift in our lives, and He deserves the credit and praise for it.

Moving Toward Action

Part of being humble involves serving other people. This means taking our eyes off of ourselves and seeing the needs of other people. Commit today to show humility to other people. Find someone today and ask them what you can do to help them this week. Then, commit to serving them. You will demonstrate God's love, care, and provision through your act of humility.

Going Deeper

Read Philippians 2:1-11 (NLT)

Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

Though he was God,
    he did not think of equality with God
    as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
    he took the humble position of a slave
    and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
    he humbled himself in obedience to God
    and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
    and gave him the name above all other names,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.