Get off the throne

Why is it that before company comes over we clean house? Or when we go out we dress up? Does it change who we are? I think that in a fallen world we just naturally have a tendency to want to impress others. The question becomes what is our purpose for wanting to impress others? Most of the time it’s selfishness or the need for approval. Another natural tendency we have is looking out for ourselves. Looking out for number 1 is a common saying in our society today. But who is number 1 is it you? I don’t think so. Philippians 2:5 says that we must have the same attitude the Christ Jesus had. Even though he was number 1 he did not hang his hat on that. He gave up all of the privileges he had in Heaven which I’m sure were a few, and came to earth as a mere man because that is what God wanted him to do. Having the same attitude Christ had is a lofty goal to be sure but you have to start somewhere. Again as I have said over and over again to have the same attitude he had you have to know him and to know him means daily Bible study and prayer. Out of those things should come good deeds like taking interest in others another thing that that should happen is that you should eventually get of your throne. It’s not yours to be sitting on anyway. The throne belongs to Christ so get off of it before he throws you out. I remember as a kid that dad had “his” chair and when I got older I would sit in it just to see what he would do. Sometimes I could sit there for awhile but when he wanted it he would just throw me out, resistance was futile. The same thing can be said if Christ he may allow you to sit on his throne for a bit but he can throw you off any time he pleases and it’s usually not pretty. This cartoon kind of says it all:

Philippians 2:3-8

 ³ Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. ⁴ Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. ⁵ You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. ⁶ Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. ⁷ Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, ⁸ he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.