Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself… (Philippians 2:4-7 ESV)
Fear Not… Then Surrender
When I was a telephone salesman, I spent most of my time afraid. As the manager, my sales numbers had to be the highest. When customers chose not to purchase our product, I was expected to concoct answers to their objections. My knowledge had to be higher than anyone else at the company, regarding product information, shipping times, guarantees, warrantees, or legalese. I saw myself at the top of Chemron Inc.’s pyramid, and I was usually afraid that something would happen to tip me back towards the bottom.
If only I had remembered Paul’s words. Paul points out that Jesus was at the top of every possible pyramid. Yet He chose to lower Himself, to humble Himself, to empty Himself of His authority, His position, and His power.
I am enough of a capitalist to appreciate the value of healthy competition. I am enough of a college football fan to appreciate the potential joys of competition. I am enough of a creative perfectionist to appreciate the inspiration often found in competition.
But I am enough of a Christian to acknowledge that those competitions also are the source of fear.
Jesus, the acknowledged champion of the universe, put aside all the high things He was entitled to and chose to lift His people up, instead of Himself. We know that about Him, and we attempt to emulate this humility, this compassion, and this love.
But Jesus’ choice also puts an end to fear.
To begin with, Jesus, being at the top, and choosing to relinquish that top-ness, had nothing to fear. No one could ever take from Him what He voluntarily surrendered out of love. And then, we get to copy Him.
It starts with our acknowledgement that HE is the source of every position, possession, and power we claim. After we understand that, we’ll find that we do not need to protect those positions, possessions, and powers. We do not need to cling to those positions, possessions, and powers. We do not need to preserve those positions, possessions, and powers. We do not need to worry about those positions, possessions, and powers.
And therefore, we lose a lot of the foundations for our daily fears.
Fear not, then surrender