Joy in Humility | Philippians 2:1-11
Have you ever taken a selfie? We live in what’s called the ‘selfie generation.’ In 2013, Oxford Dictionary made ‘selfie’ the word of the year. Since then, billions have been snapped all over the world. Studies say the average Gen Z will take more than 25,000 selfies in their lifetime. Sadly, hundreds of people have even died trying to take them; 70% of them young men. Sociologists tell us we now live in the age of the self-curated feed. Social media has trained us to see life as content. Every moment we post, every picture we take, every room we walk into is filtered through the question: “How does this make me look?” We chase the right angle, the right filter, the right pose. Entire industries are built on personal branding, self-promotion, and curating the perfect image. Here’s the lie we’ve been sold: life is about being seen, being noticed, being celebrated. ‘Look at me. Notice me. Celebrate me.’ The irony is this: the more obsessed we become with ourselves, the less joy we seem to have. Rates of anxiety, loneliness, and depression are rising at historic levels. Jonathan Haidt, in The Anxious Generation, puts it this way: “The great irony of social media is that the more you immerse yourself in it, the more lonely and depressed you become… People don’t get depressed when they face threats collectively; they get depressed when they feel isolated, lonely, or useless.” Why? Because joy was never meant to be found in self-focus.
In Philippians 2, Paul teaches us that joy isn’t found in selfies but being selfless. (Jesus, Others, Yourself) Joy doesn’t come from being center stage; it comes from learning to serve. Jesus didn’t come to earth for a selfie; He came to give His life selflessly. According to Paul, that is where the joy is found. Joy comes through humility by forgetting yourself and focusing on Jesus’ selfless example.