The Habits of Happiness Part 3
The Humble Path To Happiness
“Pride always leads to arguments.” Proverbs 13:10
PHILIPPIANS 2:1-11
Vs. 1-2 Happiness comes from Harmony
Vs. 3-5 Harmony comes from Humility
Vs. 6-11 Jesus modeled both
HARMONY CREATES HAPPINESS
“You will make my JOY COMPLETE by having the same mind, by sharing the same love, by being united in spirit, and intent on one purpose.”
Philippians 2:2 (NAS)
HOW TO REDUCE CONFLICT WITH OTHERS
1. NEVER LET PRIDE BE MY GUIDE
“Don't do anything from selfish ambition or from vain conceit.”
Philippians 2:3a
• SELFISH AMBITION:
“Wherever there’s jealousy or selfish ambition, you will find confusion and every other kind of evil.” James 3:16
“Our self-indulgent nature shows itself...in conflict, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, causing divisions among people, and the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group.” Galatians 5:19-21
• VAIN CONCEIT:
“Don't live to make a good impression on others.” (LB)
“Don’t do anything from a cheap desire to boast.” (TEV)
2. BE HUMBLE OR I’LL STUMBLE
“Instead, be humble and give more honor to others than to yourself.”
Philippians 2:3b
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6
3. LISTEN AND PAY ATTENTION
“Don’t be interested only in your own life, but be interested in what concerns others too.” Philippians 2:4
Jesus: “If you want to be my disciple, you must deny yourself, take up your cross every day, and follow me.” Luke 9:23
4. ASK, “WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?”
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:5
ACTING LIKE JESUS MEANS...
• I DON’T DEMAND WHAT I THINK I DESERVE
“Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He emptied himself of all he had...” Philippians 2:6
• I LOOK FOR WAYS THAT I CAN SERVE
“Jesus took on the nature of a servant, becoming a human just like us.”
Philippians 2:7
• I DO WHAT’S RIGHT EVEN WHEN IT’S PAINFUL
“While living as a man, Jesus humbled himself even more, by being fully obedient to God, even when that meant his death on a cross!”
Philippians 2:8 (NCV)
THE REWARD
“Because of this God exalted Jesus to the highest honor, and made his name great than every other name. That at the name of Jesus every knee will one day bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, and give glory to God the Father.”
Philippians 2:9-11
