No Exploitation

Royal throne in the Hermitage, St. Petersburg. 

Scripture

Phil. 2:⁶ who, though he was in the form of God,

did not regard equality with God

as something to be exploited,

Observation

This verse became foundational to the early church’s understanding about the nature of Jesus Christ. Paul was expressing a thought here that was significant to the Christian faith. Jesus was not just in the image of God, but Jesus was the very “nature” or “form” of God. The NIV translates the word “nature,” while you see here that the NRSV uses “form.” He wasn’t something “like” God, but he was of the very same “substance” as God. Jesus exists as God and ruler over all the heavens and the earth from the very beginning. 

Once this is established the story begins to unfold. The words are hard for us to wrap our heads around, but one can think of this as royalty. While Jesus has all the wealthy, authority and power as royalty, he refuses any of this for his own benefit. He doesn’t grasp, but he gives away. He is willing to share his power with others so that we too, can become heirs to the throne. 

In human terms this idea was shocking. The Roman rulers were constantly fighting, cheating and killing to obtain power. Often they were even willing to kill their own relatives to maintain control, power and wealth. Therefore, Jesus’ model of leadership was entirely foreign. He was God and yet he refused to abuse his power, showing no selfish ambition, and instead became a model to follow, sharing his power for good. 

Application

This passage leads us to a self-inventory — an examination of all we personally possess. Then, we have to consider our attitude toward those things. On the surface, the definition of exploit doesn’t seem so bad: “make full use of and derive benefit from (a resource).” (Google dictionary search) Who wouldn’t want to get full use or benefit out of something that we have? Once we move past the first definition, we find the second: “use (a situation or person) in an unfair or selfish way.” That’s what I normally think about exploitation — it has to do with selfishness. 

The unselfish nature of Jesus’ act becomes a model for all of us. There is to be no exploitation in our lives. We are never to use that which we possess in an unfair or selfish way, and yet, so often that is the motivation of our heart. The reason that Paul keeps reiterating this point is that, by nature, we have a hard time with this. Our nature is to be selfish and to want to exploit. That’s why he emphasizes the fact that Jesus has the same nature as God — and that we are invited to be “in” Christ, or participate in the divine nature. When that happens, then, by nature, there is no longer a desire to exploit. This is a deep-seated change in the heart of an individual, and God’s gathered people, the Church. 

This brings us back to the significance of the incarnation and why this little verse packs a powerful punch. It is only because Jesus was God, but chose to become human, that we as humans can participate in the nature of God. Let that soak in a minute, and then ask yourself whether there’s any way that we can be happy with a cultural Christianity. For far too long people have joked about those “holiness” people, or those who thought that there was a real transformation that could happen in this lifetime. What are they joking about? If this is why Jesus came to earth in human form, then why wouldn’t we want to be all in? Jesus came so that we can become like him. He willingly shares his inheritance with those who are adopted into the family because he refuses to exploit what he has for his own good. 

Daily, we are to live in imitation of, and participation in Christ. This is life-changing, and as a result, there is no space for exploitation. 

Prayer

Lord, I am overwhelmed by all that you have offered to us. Help us to graciously live in you. Amen.