Philippians 2:1-18 (NLT)

Leonard Bernstein, the late conductor of the New York Philharmonic orchestra, was once asked to name the most difficult instrument to play. Without hesitation, he replied: “The second fiddle. I can get plenty of first violinists, but to find someone who can play the second fiddle with enthusiasm, that’s a problem. And if we have no second fiddle, we have no harmony.” Finding someone to play second fiddle was a problem in the Philippian church as well.

He’s more important than me. She’s more important than me. This aging friend is more important than me. This little child is more important than me. Unless we know that we are loved by God we feel threatened when others are treated in more important ways. Unless we are secure enough in our understanding that the God of the universe loves us, we cannot have encouragement in Christ, consolation of love, and fellowship of the Spirit.
What we need is humility in Christ. It was D.L. Moody who said, “Be humble or you’ll stumble.” Winston Churchill knew how not to think more highly of himself than he ought to as well. When he was once asked, “Doesn’t it thrill you to know that every time you make a speech, the hall is packed to overflowing?” Sir Winston replied, “It’s quite flattering. But whenever I feel that way, I always remember that if instead of making a political speech I was being hanged, the crowd would be twice as big.”

Have you developed humility in your life? It’s a hard trait to acquire. Even Jesus’ own disciples didn’t start out humble. In Luke 9:46, they were arguing about which of them was the greatest. Jesus said, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me; for he who is least among you all is the one who is great.” Are you ready to play second fiddle?

Reflection:
How should a believer’s behavior be different from that of an unbeliever? What is humility and why is it so essential in living the Christian life?

*This devotional first appeared in Encounter Monthly Journal, November 2005