Defiant Joy: A Study On PhilippiansSample

DAY 4: JOY THAT DEFIES PRIDE

Pride is one of the greatest enemies of joy. It will steal our joy faster than just about anything else. Pride, after all, thrives on being comparatively better than others.  As a result, pride drives us toward a life of constant striving, which means we can never rest.

We need two things to combat pride: the first is the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. The second thing we need is the gift of humility. We can escape the pressure of pride by welcoming the opportunities to fight against it, and even intentionally humbling ourselves.

We can do all this, because Christ did it first.

Read Philippians 2 where we encounter a passage of scripture known as the “Christ Hymn.” These words are not actually original to Paul, but the rhythmic Greek recounts the core of Jesus’ story:

And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to death—

even death on a cross!

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.” (v. 6-11)

In many ways, this passage is the centerpiece of the entire book of Philippians. This is the key to Philippians, and it’s the key to Paul’s joy.

The Joy of Humility

What we see in the Christ Hymn is the arc of humility. When we lower or humble ourselves, God lifts us up. Here’s what we need to understand: this “lifting up” isn’t just a far off promise. Paul doesn’t only have eternity in view. Instead, we will taste some of the glory here and now.

That is the promise of the humble way. When we lower ourselves, when we gladly endure shame and humiliation just as Christ endured it for us, we encounter a joy and freedom we never knew before.

This is why Paul had such unshakeable joy. Not even a thread of his contentment was tied to his pride. If people mocked his misfortune, it didn’t matter. If people thought they were better than him, no skin off his back. He wasn’t in it for himself. He wasn’t on a mission to serve his pride.  

That is why Paul was one of the most joyful, free men you could ever imagine. It just wasn’t about him.