Less than or equal to?

At a live tournament last week, we mentioned a player's comment about Philippians 2:3. He said he doesn't like to consider someone "better than yourself" because we're all equal.

In a perfect world, we'd all be equal. But this world isn't perfect -- so while it's nice and noble to consider the people around you as equals, we're really not. Some have more money than others. Some have health problems, while others don't. You can cite your own examples from there.

In most poker tournaments, the players all sit down as equals. There's no handicapping, as in golf. As an online poker TV ad says, we all start with the same number of chips (unless you play where we play, and buying drinks can gain you 1,000 bonus chips at a time.)-- but the difference lies in what you do with them.

All that being said, what's wrong with "esteeming others better than yourself?" It comes from a part of Philippians 2:3 we admittedly didn't quote at the table. The King James Version puts it this way: "in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves."

The NIV Study Bible notes about this verse: "This is the mind-set of the person who is not conceited but who has a right attitude about himself."

To say I'm equal with you is an even-handed approach -- and it's something the Bible confirms. We've all sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). To treat you better than me takes a change of mind and spirit -- especially at a poker table, where some people can play "psych-out" mind games to gain an edge.

Jesus didn't play such games when the critical moment came. "He was led like a lamb to the slaughter," Isaiah 53:7 says. Verse 13 goes on to note, "He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."

While Jesus had equality with God the Father (Phil. 2:6), He gave that up to bear our sins at Calvary -- so that we might have salvation. We don't deserve it. Jesus opened the door for it. His crucifixion put us before Him. That's what Philippians 2:3 is all about -- and it's available equally to all who accept it. Will you?