In the same vein as last week’s post on turning our heart outward, I would like to continue one aspect of that discussion, namely, service to others. Kenosis is the transliteration of the Greek word κένωσις, which means “emptying.” Kenosis is the concept of the ‘self-emptying’ of one’s own will in order to become entirely receptive to God and his perfect will. This idea is Christian theology is based upon Philippians 2:7 where Paul writes that in regards to the Incarnation, Christ “made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant…”

This verse is central to the entire pericope of Philippians 2:1-11. Paul masterfully weaves the idea of servanthood as a thread through this passage, demonstrating Christ’s humility in serving others and challenging believers to do the same. Here Paul indicates that serving others requires more than skills, talents, time, or good intentions. It requires humility as well. Has there ever been a more humble act than God the Son adding a human nature to his divine nature in the Incarnation?

As I reflect on the idea of kenosis, the model Christ gives us, and the reality of how I serve others, my ironic conclusion is that I’m humbled when I realize the lack of humility that is evidenced in my service to others. Christ, God the Son, chose to forego His rights and clothe Himself in flesh for our sake, for humanity’s sake. He did not demand what was rightly his. He did not demand what He ultimately deserved. That is true humility. That is true service.

Now, to get down to the nitty gritty. Since Christmas bids me dwell on the Incarnation, God has been relentless in the past few weeks in challenging me to consider how I measure up to Paul’s charge in Philippians 2. Specifically, God is teaching me that often I am unwilling to serve those who do not deserve it. “Those who do not deserve it” can also be translated, “Those who do not give me what I think I deserve.” These include people that hurt me, anger me, dismiss me, discount me, and reject me. Oftentimes these include people who are closest to me. Sometimes it is even easy to fool myself into thinking I’m okay; bending over backwards to love and serve someone I don’t even know, while harboring destructive feelings towards someone close to me and letting countless opportunities to serve them slip away.

The motivating factor in serving others should not be therapeutic (feeling good about ourselves), but obedience.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus challenges those listening, saying, “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?” Love and service must distinguish us as followers of Christ. I am glad that Jesus did not fail like I do at this. I am grateful He had mercy on me, choosing to love and serve me even though I didn’t deserve it; even though I have hurt, angered, dismissed, discounted, and rejected Him.

I am confident the Spirit of God that dwells in me can empower me to be Christ-like. I would like to share three points God has impressed upon me in my prayer and study of the Kenosis. I hope, as I go through them, you would consider a difficult or troubled relationship you have that God has been urging you to work on. Perhaps you are dealing with an indifferent spouse, an ungrateful child, an insensitive sibling, or a judgmental friend. Often, when circumstances put us in a position where we are required to serve people like this in our everyday lives, it typically results in growing resentment and disdain for that person. We are fully capable of serving others only out of duty, without a hint of love in our actions. This issue is not that our love is too small, it is that our pride is too big. Jesus flips the script on all of this.

• The Kenosis pertains to the entire life of Christ,  from the manger to the cross. Every day and every moment was a conscious choice to obey. This is particularly challenging in the sense that there is not a point in time when all this is just going to click. We make decisions each day to obey or disobey what Scripture requires of us. We must be unwavering in our devotion to chose right. Romans 6 is such a power packed chapter, and in it, Paul alludes to the liberating effect the Gospel has on us. We can offer our bodies as instruments of righteousness. We have the freedom to choose to obey.
• Jesus, being in the form of man, was willing to unreservedly depend on the love of God the Father and the empowerment of Holy Spirit. We fail to serve people appropriately because we foolishly often try to do it in our own strength. We can serve other in powerful ways, but it is not sustainable and it is not likely to be effective in an eternal sense if we rely solely upon ourselves.
• It involves genuine humility and real renunciation. When people feel they have been wronged, it is human nature to react negatively. Christ asks more of us than that. As I said above, it is most difficult to serve those who hurt and reject us, those closest to us, those who we have likely loved the most. It is healthy to remember that people are imperfect and we are among those ourselves.