Do you know how you can tell you’ve made it as a comedian? Like really made it? They give you your own TV show. And not a show with some clever title revolving around some deep premise. No, they just call it The [blank] Show, with your name in the blank! That’s when you know you’ve truly arrived. You finally can join the ranks of Steve Harvey, Bob Newhart, Mary Tyler Moore, Jeff Foxworthy and Ellen. Okay, maybe that’s an outdated system for measuring popularity.
Still, it seems like a whole lot of us are living our lives as if we really are on our own self-titled TV show. The Me Show. And everyone else who makes an appearance on the show is just supporting cast. We are the stars. The problem with this mentality, other than being delusional and narcissistic, is that it wreaks havoc on relationships. When we assume we are the center of the universe, it makes it hard to peacefully coexist with other people. The Bible gives some very simple and straight forward advice about this.
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
— Philippians 2:2
What if we approached all of our relationships like this? Our marriages, our friendships, our work partnerships? What if we came into every interaction from a position of humility? We would treat everyone we talked to as if they were the star instead of us. Whether it’s the cashier or the homeless man on the street corner, what if we treated them as if they were more significant than us? That would change everything.
Humility is the fear of the LORD; its wages are riches and honor and life.
— Proverbs 22:4
Verse after verse in Proverbs denounces the foolishness of arrogance and praises the wisdom of selflessness. God desires us to follow the way of humility, not just because it’s right, but because it leads to the blessed and honor-filled life.
Only God deserves a position in the divine spotlight, yet scripture reminds us that Jesus adopted the Philippians 2 philosophy. He treated others more significant than himself. He did this to be our ultimate example.
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped.
— Philippians 2:5–6
So what relationships in your life could use a dose of humility? It’s time for The You Show to come to an end. Start wrapping every interaction you have in humility. Follow Christ’s example, and you’ll see what it looks like to build healthy, thriving relationships.