WISDOM FROM THE WORKPLACE: The Basin & the Towel (Philippians 2:1-18)

Sermon by Prof Lionel Lee

Attitude of Humility

Whether you are a CEO, a receptionist, a top civil servant or a waiter, God expects us to serve humbly at work. Christians are conduct ourselves in a manner so as to be pleasing to God. We can take reference from what Christ has demonstrated and done. In Philippians 2:5-7 we are encouraged to have the same mindset as Christ. He 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. Jesus’ example with the basin and water is not for the spiritual service of the monastery but in everyday tasks in busy world where all society can be found, the market places and the work places.

The Greek word humility is literally translated “lowliness of the mind”. How we treat other people depend entirely on how we think of them and how we evaluate them. In our mind’s evaluation of our subordinates, our bosses, our colleagues we are to count them better than ourselves. This means to place a value of others as more important than ourselves, to consider their dignity and worth. Humility is the attitude, mindset and basis for all our relationship building, our interaction and our collegiality at the workplace.

Actions of Humility

Humility begins with the mind but it continues into conduct. Jesus took action to serve us. Phil 2:7 “by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself."

Here are described about six actions that Jesus took

·        He emptied himself,

·        He became a servant

·        He was made in human likeliness

·        He humbled himself

·        He became obedient

·        He died on the cross

Consequences of Service

Such humble services are not without consequences, there are sacrifices to be made. In 2 Cor 4:8-9 Paul listed four struggles he faced in his vocation as an apostle, a missionary “we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing, persecuted but not forsaken; struck down but not destroyed.”

1.  Affliction – the word suggest the idea of pressure or stress. At the workplace this stress is brought on by difficult circumstances or antagonistic people. We can feel pressured, harassed and oppressed.
2. Perplexed or confused – the original idea is “no way out”. At work it can mean trapped and not knowing where or whom to turn for help.
3. Persecution – the term originally meant to pursue, like being  chased or being intimidated by unreasonable people at work.
4. Rejection or struck down - be ready at work to accept humiliations Can we face the feeling of being cast or shoved aside?

Conclusion

Serving like a servant in our workplaces? Is this possible? It becomes possible when we realise that it is not just our colleagues or bosses we  serve. In Col 3:23-24 "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

When we recognize that that ultimately we are serving Jesus at work, then it becomes no longer demeaning. In the movie, Chariots of Fire, Eric LIdell in explaining to his sister why he wants to run in the Olympics said, “Jenny, when I run, I feel God’s pleasure”. What a change it will make in our lives and what an impact God will make in our society when we can say that we feel God’s pleasure when we work[1].

 Reflection Questions

1. Which of the 4 consequences have you experienced in trying to be a servant at the workplace?
2. Identify 1 or 2 colleagues whom you have difficulty seeing them as better than yourself. How can you learn humility when you relate to them.
3. How may the promise of the Lord in Col 3:23-24 encourage you to serve at the workplace as unto the Lord?

[1] From Benjamin Ng

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