Esteeming or steaming?

“And the Devil did grin, for his darling sin is pride that apes humility.” ~ Samuel Taylor Coleridge

“Don't be so humble, you're not that great.” ~ Golda Meir

If you travel often on commercial airlines you start to notice certain behavior patterns among the traveling public. The board and deplaning process can best be described as controlled chaos. Pavlov’s dog has nothing on airline passengers because the moment the seat belt light dings people are up like a shot and on occasion people will bolt up the aisle and show no courtesy to others. Another thing you notice is that people jockey for overhead space to store luggage and ignore the flight attendant’s pleas to not put multiple bags or jackets in the bins until all of the large carry-ons are stowed. I have watched with amusement as people have tried in vain to fit an over sized bag in an overhead bin that is two or three times smaller than their bag. And of course there is always those that insist on bring a roller bag that should have been either checked in at ticketing or at a minimum gate checked. But they have no compunction about taking up more than there fair share of the overhead space, or moving bags already stowed elsewhere; typically a few rows behind the owner.

One of my least favorite is the “cell phone megaphone”. This is the traveler who thinks a third of the plan wants to listen to their very “important conversation.” It is comical to watch who ignores the flight attendant announcements about when “approved electronic devices” can or should be used. There is also that one individual who has to be told to shutdown their phone, iPod, Kindle, laptop or electronic game; not just once or twice. They just don’t understand; we have to get that one last text message out or update our social networking status, (just had another bag of pretzels at DFW or something to that effect.)

Then there is the arm rest wrestling match to see who can claim it for their own. This is only rivaled slightly by “leg space invaders” where legs are spread akimbo to invade the limited leg room of passengers in the same aisle. But the pièce de résistance has to be the "seat back bounce house". This usually happens when a small child sits behind you and thinks it is great fun to open and close the tray table repeatedly during the flight. It is closely followed by the adult traveler who thinks that your seat back is where their knees or feet belong, and that reclining the seat applies to them but not the passenger in front of them.

But there are rare occasions when you observe a true gentleman who leaves his seat to help the elderly or a vertically challenged lady stow a heavy bag. The traveler who helps a frazzled mom entertain her small tike on the plane and assists them with their bags. Or that frequent traveler who shares advice about the quickest way to get to the next gate. There are some travelers who are not always consumed with themselves and are considerate and helpful, but sadly it seems to be the exception rather than the rule.

We move through life at times so focused on ourselves or looking out for our own interests that we loose site of others. Admittedly I can get lost in the moment or get self absorbed to the point I fail to consider others. But in God’s economy we are called to a humility that esteems others better than ourselves. What does it mean to esteem? In the Merriam Webster dictionary the definition is to hold someone in high regard or to place worth or value on them. In Philippians 2:3 we are told to esteem or consider others in lowliness of mind or humility. Our esteem or consideration of our fellow believers is to be led, guided and ruled by humility. In the Expositor’s Bible Commentary Homer Kent states; “This concept (humility) was not highly regarded in Greek literature. Grundmann observes that the Greek concept of a free man led to contempt for any sort of subjection, whereas the Bible proposes that we should be controlled by God and thus assumes that to subject ourselves to God is praiseworthy (Walter Grundmann, Tapeinos, et al., TDNT, 8:11, 12). This paved the way for the Christian ethic that calls for believers to be humble toward one another, mindful of their spiritual brotherhood and their ultimate subjection to Christ. In the exercise of humility, Paul instructed his readers to "consider others better than yourselves." This does not mean that we must have false or unrealistic views of our own gifts as compared with those of others. Moral superiority is not in view. What Paul means is that our consideration for others must precede concern for ourselves (Romans 12:10).”

Just how do we achieve this in our Christian circles? Kent addresses four ways that the Apostle Paul outlines for us in Philippians 2:1-4 that we are to achieve unity in the body of Christ. The four ways unity is achieved are through a mutual love, setting our minds to our oneness of soul, the avoidance of selfish conceit and considering others above ourselves and not to look to our own interests but also to those of others. Kent goes on to say that; “The self-centeredness that considers only one's own rights, plans, and interests must be replaced by a broader outlook that includes the interests of one's fellows.” I once heard a preacher say that he would sum up Philippians with this phrase; up with my rights down with my joy. If our focus is first and foremost on our rights and that is what we spend all of our time and energy fighting for we will definitely be esteeming or considering others and we will likely be utterly devoid of joy. This passage in Philippians implies that we are to stand firm in one spirit no matter what happens. What’s more important to you and I; our rights or our joy?


“Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” ~ Philippians 2:3-4