Fulfilled?
“It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest.” – The Wealth of Nations (1776)People sell us stuff not because they are nice, but because they want to make money for themselves. And so they try to sell us things that we are interested in, things that we desire and want for ourselves. In our system, you have to look after number one. That is what marketing tells us: You are worth it. Consume, desire, take all you can, be fulfilled.
And it makes sense, right, because doesn’t this economic system just reflect what we see in nature, anyway? The survival of the fittest means that in nature, organisms compete for food and mates for survival. Those who have the best traits can dominate or outperform the weaker or less suitable. That is just how reality is, right?
So, how is this self-interested world going?
Despite having more comfort, more possessions, more options than ever before — people are not more fulfilled; we want as much as we possibly can, and then some.
Last year, I went to the Burns Club for the first time, sort of by accident. My friend arranged for us to meet there as it was close to me in Kambah. We both didn’t know it was an all-you-can-eat place. It was crazy. It sparked memories of when I was a kid at Sizzlers. But afterwards it sort of messed with me. It was like a temple to food and the God of the stomach. What does it say about us as a culture where we have places where you can eat as much as you want? And of course in a place like that, you don’t exercise self-control. You fill yourself as much as you possibly can, and then some.
I thought that place was a little snapshot of our culture. We want as much as we possibly can, and then some. We are the most over entertained generation in the history of the world, we are stuffed and yet in this brave new world we are still bored and have high levels of depression.
We are left empty.
We are endlessly distracted —we scroll, we shop, we work late, we fill our days —but behind all that noise, there's a quiet nihilism: the haunting sense that none of it really means anything. We think we are filling ourselves, but are we really?
We are told our lives are about some self-interested goal, or about some achievement that once we tick off, we will be all good. Retirement isn’t meant to be spent on the beach for the rest of your life. Maybe for a moment you can go away and do that, but you can’t stay there forever.
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We chase self-fulfilment... and end up emptier ,only to die in the end.
Today in Philippians, we are thinking about serving others. We are looking at how God Himself lives a poured-out life, and so as we mimic Him, we become more god-like. We were made to live a poured-out life, for that is who God is. That actually is deep down our reality. In serving others, we can have a real sense of joy, even if it is hard, even if it doesn’t seem like it benefits us at all.
It would be amiss of me to also note on Mother's Day, that this is what any good mother does for her children. They make massive sacrifices, but not to be repaid, not for some transaction, but out of love for their children. This is how we see God in this passage. So today, if you can, you should thank your mum for the sacrifices they made for you.
In our passage, Paul first gives us a goal for how we should live, and then gives us examples to show how we can live this way.
The Goal (2:1-4)
Paul is in chains for Christ when he is writing this letter. He is suffering for God. We may not know the exact situation the Philippians are going through, but they, too, were facing some problems themselves. They were not fully united. We don’t know exactly what the issues were that were dividing the church, but Paul here addresses how they can be united.Paul wants the Philippian church to be internally united, so that they will live together, as a colony of heaven, facing the world together, supporting one another to live an alternate lifestyle.
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (Philippians 2:1–4 NIV)Paul wants them to use their unity and love for Christ to be the basis for their unity and love for each other. He implores them to be humble, to work together and not for their own interests. To do this work together, there must be some denial of self for the other, and even to value others above yourself. This is a service in the way of love, to bring about unity. A giving of yourself and your interests, a pouring out of self for the other, so that they can be united with each other.
This is a fragile thing, for it depends on everyone to be working for this. This is a hard thing, for our normal operating procedure is self-first and not others.
The Example of Jesus
And in this high call, Paul then thinks of pretty much the best example there is when it comes to serving others. He pulls out the ultimate trump card and says we are to have the same mindset as Jesus. This is huge. This is one of the highest callings a Christian is to have. They are to imitate God, and we see that God is humble, that God is self-emptying for the sake of others. This is fundamental to who we are to be, for this is fundamental as to who God is.Verses 6-11 have been hotly debated as to whether it was a previous hymn or poem that Paul didn’t write but dropped in here. Our Bibles sort of format it like a poem. You can see there is some structure or pattern to this section. There is a U shape to describing Jesus’ life. It talks not a of a rages to riches story, but a riches to rags to riches story. It is about Jesus’ descent in humiliation and then His exultation.
One of the main problems with the idea that this section was a distinct unit from somewhere else is that this concept only came into fashion around the 1920s. As one commentator said:
If the section is a hymn, it is surprising that no Greek-or Syriac-speaking commentator of the ancient church recognized its poetic character (Philippians Original Meaning)But regardless of what source criticism ideas we have on this, it is important for us to remember how this section works within the whole chapter. We need to remember that this bit about Jesus is introduced as an example for the Philippians. This section is here to show the Philippians how they are to have the same mindset as Jesus, with relating to one another.
Jesus’ self-humbling (2:6-8)
In this first half, we see Jesus’ descent into humiliation:Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:6–8 NIV)We see that Jesus was in very nature God. He was made up of the same stuff as God. Jesus was truly and fully God. But Jesus didn’t use His position for His own advantage. He didn’t use his position as God for gain or glory, but rather He gave it all up (O’Brien, Peter T. (1991), The Epistle to the Philippians: a commentary on the Greek text (The New International Greek Testament Commentary)).
Now, the line in verse 7 that says “he made himself nothing” doesn’t mean Jesus ceased to exist, or that He became thin air, or was the thing that rock thinks about. The line uses a word to mean “emptying”. This is the word for today’s sermon. It is Kenosis, it means emptying. Jesus emptied himself. He poured Himself out, not by subtraction but by addition. He didn’t cease to be God, but instead He took on, He added to Himself the very nature of a servant.
Jesus came as a man. Not a pretend man, but an actual, real-life person. God voluntarily chose to be limited by time and space. He was connected to a placenta in the womb. He had earlobes that you could flick, and when walking along a dusty path, His nose would get blocked.
Not only was God limited by just being a man, but He was a weak man. He had no power or riches. He made himself low and took on the nature of a servant. A servant or a slave is deprived of certain rights and freedoms. This is crazy. The God who made the laws of the universe became subject to the laws of the universe. The God who made people became subject to people.
But it was more than that. Jesus humbled himself to death, and not a quick and easy death at the end of a long life, but death on a cross. This is ridiculous. God died as a servant on a cross. This is pretty much rock bottom. Crucifixion was such a nasty way to die that people in the upper and middle classes wouldn’t speak about it. On rare occasions when they would crucify women, they would turn her away from the crowd so people didn’t have to see the pain in her face. In fact, they made up a word to describe the pain on a cross: “excruciating”. Origin, who lived a bit after Paul, said crucifixion was an “utterly vile death” (Cited in O’Brien, Peter T. (1991), The Epistle to the Philippians: a commentary on the Greek text (The New International Greek Testament Commentary)).
And what is crazy with all this is that Paul is saying we are to have the same mindset as Jesus. Here, on the gruesome cross, we see the character of God. He pours Himself out for others. He took on the role of a servant or a slave for others. He did not use His position for gain or glory, but gave himself up for others.
This is the key idea to this chapter: kenosis. Do you seek your own fulfilment and self-interest and only to feel empty? Or do you mimic God, and empty yourself, and in doing so, bring about unity and love in our community? We are to have the same mindset as Jesus.
Jesus’ exaltation (2:9-11)
Now, the story doesn’t end here. The decline of Jesus then moves upwards again to Heaven. Jesus did not stay dead on the cross. He rose again, and this has universal impact on all things. From verse 9:Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9–11 NIV)Because of Jesus’ great act for us, because of His self-humbling, God exalted Him above everything else; Jesus is Lord of all. All knees will bow before Jesus, all tongues will say that Jesus is Lord.
God the Father intervenes directly to exalt his Son. This was grace. Jesus' exaltation was given to Him from the Father; it was not earned.
The Father's response is one of validation and approval (O’Brien, Peter T. (1991), The Epistle to the Philippians: a commentary on the Greek text (The New International Greek Testament Commentary)). This wasn’t done in stages like Jesus’ humiliation; it was immediate. Jesus was given the name or title of “Lord” which means “King”.
Jesus humbled Himself to this world and its people, and through the grace of God, He is now exalted as King over this world and its people. And one day, everyone is going to say, “Jesus is Lord”. Some may not like it, but on that last day, when King Jesus returns, it will be impossible for people not to say that Jesus is the true King and ruler over everything.
This means that Jesus isn’t just a good guy for Christians. Jesus isn’t just your personal saviour, He is Lord over everything. Jesus isn’t anxiously waiting for someone to accept Him. He is not some girl in year 10 hoping someone will pick them to go to the formal. He is Lord over everything, like it or not. You either admit now that Jesus is King over everything or later, when it is too late.
Obedient Salvation (2:12-18)
Paul then goes on to tell the Philippians to be obedient in verse 12. We just saw that Jesus was obedient to the point of death, but here the Philippians are to be obedient in working out their salvation.This is not working for salvation, this isn’t working at salvation, it is working out our salvation (John MacArthur from one of his talks on Philippians). The working out in verse 12 is about getting the Philippians to think how they are going to serve others by showing the grace of Jesus in their lives in the here and now. They are to think about Jesus and what He had done, and in light of that, work out how they are going to live out their salvation. It is about how they are going to fulfil their responsibilities to others around them (O’Brien, Peter T. (1991), The Epistle to the Philippians: a commentary on the Greek text (The New International Greek Testament Commentary)). And in verse 13 it is God who is working in them. God gives us new desires and motivation to fulfil His good purposes. We work out our salvation; God works in our salvation.
This is the key motivator to this chapter. God works in us, so we can serve others and be united in love.
Since becoming a Christian, have you noticed different desires and motivations that you previously did not have? Do you enjoy reading the Bible when in the past you didn’t? Do you try not to self-promote but instead enjoy giving others glory and not yourself? Was church a drag, but now it's an exciting place? Do you feel united with other Christians simply because they worship Jesus and not because of similar hobbies? God is at work in us, helping us to fulfil His good purpose.
In verse 14, Paul gives one example of how the Philippians are to serve others
Do everything without grumbling or arguing, (Philippians 2:14 NIV)They are to live like shining stars and to rejoice because, regardless of circumstances, they have much to rejoice in.
This is one clear way you can serve others. It is hard to be glad and to also be grumbling. It is hard to rejoice while also arguing. If someone listened to every conversation you said over the past week, would they think you are a complainer and argumentative, or would they hear rejoicing? In living out our salvation, we are to be a beacon of hope, a sign of life in a world of death (Wright, Tom (2004), Paul for Everyone: The Prison Letters). God has saved us in Jesus. You don’t have to rejoice, but you can, and it is encouraged.
And Paul does that in verse 17, he says
But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me. (Philippians 2:17–18 NIV)Paul rejoices, even facing a possible death sentence, and wants the Philippians to rejoice with him. Paul says he feels like he is being poured out, he is being drained, yet he is not complaining but rejoices in his emptying, because of the Philippians' sacrifice and service that they have shown to him. Paul's joy comes not from the absence of suffering, but from a shared commitment to sacrificial service motivated by faith in Christ. Sacrificial service brings him joy.
Two examples (2:19-30)
Paul then turns to talking a little bit about his travel plans. Karl Barth says, this bit contains no “direct teaching” (cite in Philippians Original Meaning)And while that might be true, we can learn from this bit. Paul holds up two people as examples to copy, as people who have the same mindset as Christ. It is one thing to have some standard of what self-emptying service looks like; it is another to point to real-life examples of what to copy. Here we see that it is possible, and what it looks like in reality. These two people Paul turns to are people the Philippians know: Timothy and Epaphroditus.
Timothy (2:19-24)
Timothy co-authored this letter. He was around when the Philippian church was planted, so they know him and probably have strong feelings for him. Paul wants to send Timothy to them for their encouragement, and also, from verse 21,For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. (Philippians 2:21–22 NIV)Timothy shows genuine concern for their welfare, not putting his own interests first, but those of Jesus. This is the repeated theme here. Don’t miss it. We are to have the same mindset of Jesus, who humbled Himself for us. Paul puts off his desires for others. Timothy is held up as an example in this area as well. So again, are you a humble person? Do you put others' needs before yourself? Now, humility isn’t wallowing in your own self-pity or playing the victim or saying how bad your own circumstances are. That is the very opposite of humility because you are drawing attention to yourself. Do you have a problem with your I’s, that is, do you say “I did this”, “I did that” too much? Or on the negative, do you say “oh I couldn’t do this”, “I’m not that great at that”.
C.S. Lewis says a humble person doesn’t say how they are a nobody and not worth the attention; instead, a humble person may seem like a cheerful, joyful, intelligent person who takes a real interest in others and not themselves. They do not think about themselves at all (Mere Christianity).
Epaphroditus (2:25-30)
The second example Paul gives for a life worth imitating is Epaphroditus. This is the guy who has caused this letter in the first place. His task was to bring a gift to Paul, probably money for food, but in the end, he got sick and nearly died. Epaphroditus then hears the Philippians know he is sick. His concern is for the people in his home church and is worried about how they are feeling when they heard the news about him. Again, you can see how other person-centred he is. Epaphroditus isn’t looking for sympathy; he is hoping that his church will be reassured that he is better. Paul holds him as an example because he was prepared to die for the Gospel (Wright, Tom (2004), Paul for Everyone: The Prison Letters).While it may not have seemed that glamorous, getting sick and nearly dying, Paul holds up Epaphroditus as an example of showing self-sacrificing service for others. While Epaphroditus may not have planned it, he was willing to use his life and give it up if necessary for the sake of the Gospel. Epaphroditus's self-sacrifice is an imitation of Jesus’ ultimate self-sacrifice for us. We too are to find ways we can imitate Jesus in this way for others.
Wrap up
So, to wrap up. We are to serve others. Emptying ourselves. To bring about unity, not looking to our own interests but the interests of others. We aren’t to be complainers or arguers, but humble and sacrificial. Mimicking God. We often pray that people will be more like Christ, being humble and sacrificial, is exactly what we see Jesus is like here.Life is one of service to God and others. It is Kenosis, emptying - that is the fulfilling life, the one where God is working through us for His purposes.
Our world says, hold on, accumulate, take all you can, fill your own bucket. But Philippians says, empty yourself, serve, be like Jesus.
Life is meant to be spent. Go to bed tired. Sacrifice for others is a good thing; God thought so.
Lay your life down. Your heartbeats cannot be hoarded. Your reservoir of breaths is draining away. You have hands, blister them while you can. You have bones, make them strain—they can carry nothing in the grave. You have lungs, let them spill with laughter. With an average life expectancy of 78.2 years in the US (subtracting eight hours a day for sleep), I have around 250,000 conscious hours remaining to me in which I could be smiling or scowling, rejoicing in my life, in this race, in this story, or moaning and complaining about my troubles. I can be giving my fingers, my back, my mind, my words, my breaths, to my wife and my children and my neighbors, or I can grasp after the vapor and the vanity for myself, dragging my feet, afraid to die and therefore afraid to live. And, like Adam, I will still die in the end.May we live like this. Mimicking our God. For the full life, is one of emptying. It's Kenosis, one of service to others, motivated by God who works in us, for He made himself nothing, for us.
Living is the same thing as dying. Living well is the same thing as dying for others.
Lord Jesus Christ,who, though You were in very nature God,humbled Yourself to take the form of a servant,grant us Your mind and heart.Make us one in spirit and purpose,putting others above ourselves,looking not to our own interests but to the good of all.May we work out our salvation with fear and trembling,shining as lights in a dark world,holding fast to the word of life.To the glory of God the Father. Amen.
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