The Mind of Christ

Adapted from: The Mind of Christ by Sam Holm

Ever notice how the world tells us to climb the ladder, promote ourselves, and look out for number one? What if I told you that true joy comes from doing the exact opposite?

Five years ago, Baylor basketball coach Scott Drew led his team to a national championship. When asked about his secret, he pointed to one word: JOY. But it wasn't just about winning games—it was an acronym that shaped their entire culture: Jesus, Others, You. This wasn't a coaching innovation; it was a 2,000-year-old principle that's been changing lives ever since.

Three Questions This Message Answers

1. Why is humility so hard for us?

Before Jesus walked the earth, humility wasn't considered a virtue. Ancient philosophers like Aristotle and Plato actually viewed putting others first as weakness. Our culture still operates this way—we're told to demand our rights, protect our position, and make sure we get ours first. It goes against everything we've been taught about success and self-preservation.

2. What does real humility actually look like?

It's not just doing nice things occasionally or appearing humble on the surface. Real humility is a mindset shift where you genuinely consider others' interests as important as—or even more important than—your own. It means thinking about what would bless your spouse before you've had your morning coffee. It means celebrating when your colleague gets the promotion you wanted. It means showing up to help without expecting anything in return.

3. How can putting others first lead to more joy?

Here's the paradox: when you step down to serve others, something unexpected happens. You experience a deeper satisfaction than any self-focused achievement could bring. It's like showing up at a hospital to encourage someone and leaving feeling more encouraged yourself. This isn't just positive thinking—it's a pattern woven into how we're designed to live.

The Ultimate Example

The Apostle Paul, writing from a Roman prison cell, pointed to Jesus as the ultimate example of this joy-filled mindset. Jesus had every right to demand honor and recognition—He was divine, after all. But instead of grasping onto His position, He stepped down. He took on human form, lived as a servant, and ultimately died on a cross.

Think about that. The most powerful being in existence chose to humble Himself completely. Not because He was weak, but because He was thinking of us.

Here's what happened next: God lifted Jesus up and gave Him the highest honor possible. And what did Jesus do with that honor? He used it to point back to God. It's this beautiful cycle of mutual honor—stepping down to lift others up, which somehow results in everyone being elevated.

What This Looks Like in Real Life

In marriage, it means genuinely studying what brings your partner joy and making that a priority. At work, it means contributing to the team's success even when you won't get credit. In your friendships, it means listening without steering every conversation back to your own experiences.

One pastor described how he thinks each morning about what kind of coffee his wife would enjoy and when she'd like it. It's a small thing, but it represents a mindset—starting the day thinking about someone else's happiness before his own. And here's what he discovered: it brings him joy.

This isn't about becoming a doormat or ignoring your own needs. It's about a fundamental shift in how you approach relationships and life. Instead of "What can I get?" the question becomes "How can I give?"

Your Next Step

Our culture desperately needs this alternative way of living. The constant self-promotion and self-protection leave us exhausted and isolated. But there's another path.

This week, try this: identify one person in your life and ask yourself, "What would genuinely bless them today?" Then do it without mentioning it or expecting anything in return. Notice how you feel afterward.

If you want to go deeper, consider reading through the book of Philippians. It's a short letter written by someone in prison who somehow maintained incredible joy by focusing on others rather than his circumstances.

The joy mindset isn't just ancient wisdom—it's a practical approach to life that actually works. When you stop climbing over others to get ahead and start lifting others up instead, you might just discover the joy you've been searching for all along.

Ready to experience more joy? Start small. Start today. Start by thinking of someone else first.