Why Does Paul Tell Us to “Consider Others More Significant” Than Ourselves?
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Humility is almost a foreign word in today’s often self-centered world. Our society today has a tendency to focus on personal happiness and individual freedoms over the good of the community.
Yet it wasn’t terribly different in the days Jesus walked the earth. Back then, just as today, people scrambled to look after themselves and the needs of their families. They sought to protect their own interests, and we know how many times Jesus criticized the Pharisees for their hypocrisy and arrogance.
Time and again, Jesus spoke out against the desire to put the self first — taking the best seat at the table or hosting parties knowing others would reciprocate, wearing fancy robes and lapping up the adoration and respect others bestowed upon them.
In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught us we should strive to be humble, noting, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5). The original Greek used for “meek” is praus, and it means being gentle of heart and behaving toward others with humility and consideration.
This is the same thing the apostle Paul urges in his letter to the early church in Philippi.
In Philippians 2:3, Paul urges Christians,
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”
What does this mean? How do we count others as more significant than ourselves, and why should we bother to do so?
In short, Paul is urging us in the same way Jesus did — and we should take his words to heart.
What Is Humility?
Humility is the essence of piety, according to the Encyclopedia of the Bible. The Dictionary of Bible Themes calls it an attitude of lowliness and obedience. Dictionary.com describes it as a modest opinion or estimate of one's own importance and rank.
In everyday terms, we can understand humility as understanding that we, on our own, aren’t of any special importance, nor are we better than anyone else. No matter our wealth, our physical attractiveness, our intelligence, our status, or any other manner in which we might compare ourselves to others (or even perhaps lift ourselves above others), we’re all on the same level. Indeed, in understanding this, we acknowledge our own low status even further, which helps us lift up others’ needs before our own and consider them as more important than ourselves.
It’s the polar opposite of the messaging we often hear today that lifts up self-focus, self-confidence, self-concern, self-absorption, and self-indulgence.
Here, Paul is telling us to be humble and consider others higher than ourselves. He’s telling us to act like a servant, not a master.
What Is the Context of This Verse?
In the previous chapter, Philippians 1, Paul urges the early church to live in a manner “worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Philippians 1:27) and to be united, much like one body in perfect alignment in the Holy Spirit, even in our suffering.
Now, in Philippians 2, he further urges the church to accomplish this by following Christ’s example of humility. Be “of the same mind,” verse 2 says, rejecting selfish concerns, wants, or needs. Be like Jesus, he said, and, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (v. 4). He’s echoing Christ’s words in Mark 12:31 to love your neighbor as yourself.
Then Paul goes further, giving us an example of how Christ modeled this for us. As Paul said, even though Jesus was divine, God in human form, he didn’t act this way. He acted like a humble servant, born a lowly man, humbling himself by serving others, and ultimately dying a horrific and humiliating death on a cross.
That’s what our savior did, and we need to follow his example and be this way, too.
What Did Jesus Say about Considering Others as Greater Than Yourself?
Jesus consistently modeled and taught humility throughout his earthly ministry, and this is Paul’s great point.
Not only did Jesus lift up humility as a virtue in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5), but he told us to be like children. At that time in society, children were of little consequence and the lowest status in society.
Yet in Matthew 18, Jesus called a child over to him and told his disciples they must become like children — lowly.
Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3-4).
Humility is a requirement for heaven.
Later, he told them to hear the words of the Pharisees, but don’t behave like them and don’t exalt yourself, for we are all brothers and sisters.
As he said, “The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:11-12).
Further, the night before his arrest, at the Last Supper, Jesus modeled humility by kneeling to wash the filthy feet of his twelve disciples. His followers were shocked, and Peter objected at first, but Jesus insisted on performing this subservient act.
Then he asked if they understood what he had done, explaining, “You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them” (John 13:13-17).
What Are Some Other Bible Verses Encouraging Humility?
A number of verses throughout the Old and New Testaments affirm the importance of humility.
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8).
“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
“Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor” (Proverbs 3:34).
“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you” (James 4:10).
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you” (1 Peter 5:6).
“God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God” (1 Corinthians 1:28-29).
“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13).
Over and over, the message is clear: Humble yourselves. Serve God and serve others just like Jesus did.
How Can We Have Humility Today?
Humility starts within. First, understand God is the most important, the highest. God is our ruler and king, now and forever. We belong to him.
Then, understand what that looks like in our relationship to him. We are blessed to receive his gift of salvation and are not entitled to this. We do not deserve it and cannot possibly achieve it on our own. Recognize and confess our wrongdoings and shortcomings. Recognize we are not God and never will be.
Finally, in honor of this, model Jesus, even knowing we can never achieve this goal. Sacrifice yourself for others. Share what you have. Give generously of your money, your time, and your talents.
Don’t boast or celebrate your accomplishments. Serve and help others. Lift them higher than yourself. Share your food and your clothing, your money and your home. Share even if you risk hardship. Understand that we are all one, and nothing belongs to me alone.
Listen well, ask questions, admit when you’re wrong, and don’t worry about your status or earning respect. Save respect for the only one worthy: the Lord.
Pray about how you can apply all of this to your own life, in whatever setting you work or live.
If we are truly followers of Christ, we are obligated to behave like him. Jesus behaved with humility, and we must, too, whatever that looks like. Amen, and thanks be to God for all God’s precious and perfect gifts.
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