Chapter 2: What Does Emptying Mean for a Christian?

Chapter 2:

What Does Emptying Mean for a Christian?

 

 

 

 

In Chapter 1, we examined the Incarnation and self-emptying of Jesus Christ—that is, the meaning of Kenosis. When we say that Jesus emptied Himself, it does not mean that He gave up His divinity. Rather, although He was the Son of God, He did not cling to the glory and rights that were His for His own advantage, but humbled Himself by taking the form of a servant. And that emptying was brought to completion through His obedience and death on the cross.

 

Now, then, we must ask: As disciples of Jesus, how are we to empty ourselves?  Christian emptying is not simply a religious resolution to give something up.  Nor is emptying completed merely by letting go of one desire, giving up one plan, or sharing a portion of our possessions.  Christian emptying is a life in which we acknowledge that God, not we ourselves, is the Lord of our lives, and offer ourselves to the will of God.  Paul demonstrates this kind of emptying through his own life. In Philippians 2:17, he confesses: “But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.”  The “drink offering” Paul speaks of here refers to the Old Testament practice of pouring wine over an offering as part of a sacrifice.  Paul confesses that if even his life and ministry could be offered to God, he would count it a joy.  This confession shows us how far Christian emptying is meant to go.  Emptying does not end with possessing a little less. It goes as far as offering ourselves to God.

 

Christian Emptying Means Emptying Ourselves of the Desire to Be Our Own Master

 

As we go through life, we constantly try to be the masters of our own lives.  We want to make the plans, make the decisions, remain in control, and have things work out in the direction we desire.  That is why, even when we pray to God, we often actually ask Him to accomplish our own will.  But Christian emptying begins here: “My life does not belong to me; it belongs to God.”  This confession must become a reality in our daily lives.  Even when what I desire does not happen, I must trust God.  Even when a path opens that differs from my plan, I must ask what the Lord desires.  Even when honesty costs me something, I must choose honesty.  Even when I believe I am right, I must examine myself again before the Word of God.  This is what it means to empty ourselves of self-sovereignty.  Emptying does not mean doing nothing. Rather, it means actively living according to the will of God.  Our prayer changes from: “Lord, please make things happen the way I want,” to: “Lord, let Your will be done rather than what I want.”

 

Christian Emptying Means Honestly Emptying the Sin and Desires Within Us

 

When we begin to empty ourselves of the desire to be our own masters, we naturally begin to see what has been occupying our hearts.  There may be pride.  There may be greed.  There may be a desire for recognition.  There may be a desire to appear to others as a good person.  There may be stubbornness that wants to prove that I am right.  Even while outwardly living a diligent life of faith, such desires may remain deep within our hearts.  Therefore, Christian emptying means placing our hearts before the Word of God every day.  “Lord, what still remains within me?”  “What am I holding on to?”  “What is making me angry?”  “What am I afraid of losing?”  “What am I doing in order to gain the approval of others?”  We must be honest before these questions.  And when God reveals something to us, we must acknowledge it and repent.  Emptying begins not by hiding the sin within us, but by exposing it before God.  If we discover pride, we must bring that pride before God and empty ourselves of it.  If we discover greed, we must acknowledge that greed and empty ourselves of it.  If we discover hatred, we must not conceal it but empty ourselves of it.  If we discover hypocrisy, we must strip it away and empty ourselves of it.  We will examine these specific areas of emptying one by one in Chapters 4 through 12.

 

Christian Emptying Means Filling the Empty Place with Christ

 

Yet we must not forget a very important truth.  Emptying itself is not the goal.  We may empty greed from our hearts, only for another form of greed to take its place.  We may think we have emptied ourselves of pride, only to become proud of the fact that “I am not proud.”  Therefore, the emptying described in Scripture does not mean simply making the heart empty.  It means filling the emptied place with Christ.  Christian emptying does not mean leaving the heart in an empty state; it means progressively filling the emptied place with the mind of Christ.  Ultimately, Christian emptying is the process of becoming more like Christ.  That is why Paul exhorts us in Philippians 2:5: “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.”  The reason we empty ourselves is not simply to become “good people.”  It is so that the mind of Christ may dwell within us.

 

Christian Emptying Is Expressed through Self-Denial

Jesus spoke very clearly to His disciples about the Christian life: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Mt. 16:24).  To “deny oneself” does not mean denying our existence or hating ourselves.  It means emptying ourselves of the desire to be the ultimate master of our own lives.  It means putting the Lord’s will before our own.  It means choosing love over personal comfort.  It means choosing service over our rights.  It means choosing reconciliation over our pride.  It means choosing truth over personal gain.  This is self-denial.  Therefore, self-denial does not end with a single emotional decision. It takes place through our daily choices.  Today, will I choose my own will, or will I choose God’s will?  Today, will I insist on my rights, or will I serve in love?  Today, will I exalt myself, or will I build someone else up?  These small choices come together to form a Christian life of emptying.

 

Emptying Myself in the Home

 

Where, then, should this emptying begin?  It must begin in the place closest to us: the home.  It is difficult to hide who we really are at home because our spouse and children see us more closely than anyone else.  Therefore, emptying in the home must be very practical.  Instead of waiting for my spouse to understand me first, I should first seek to understand my spouse.  Instead of waiting for the other person to apologize first, I should be the first to extend a hand of reconciliation.  Rather than clinging only to the thought, “I am right,” I should listen to the other person all the way through.  Rather than bringing up past wrongs one by one in order to attack the other person, I should forgive and begin again.  Rather than viewing my children’s future as a means of enhancing my own honor and success, I should entrust them to God and raise them in love.  This is emptying in the home.  Husbands and wives, in particular, should love and respect one another according to the love of Christ rather than insisting on their own rights (Eph. 5:25, 33).  In the home, the first person I need to empty is not the other person, but myself.

 

Emptying Myself in the Church Community

 

Emptying must also be expressed very practically in the church.  When we hold a position of responsibility in the church, a desire for recognition may arise.  We may want others to notice what we have done and acknowledge that we are right.  But in the Lord’s church, what matters is not how high I have risen, but how much I have helped others to grow.  Jesus said: “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all” (Mk. 9:35).  Emptying myself in the church does not mean abandoning my position or ministry.  Rather, it means understanding that a position in the church is not a place for exalting myself, but a place for serving.  It means giving glory to God when I am praised, listening humbly when I hear opinions different from my own, quietly doing what needs to be done even when no one recognizes it, and willingly making room for others so that they may grow.  I am not the Lord of the church. Jesus Christ alone is the Lord of the church.  Therefore, rather than exalting ourselves because of our position, experience, or knowledge, we must humble ourselves in order to build up the body of Christ.

 

Emptying Myself in the Workplace

 

The workplace is also an important place where Christian emptying is tested.  We want recognition at work.  We want promotions.  We want greater compensation.  Sometimes we may think that a little manipulation or exaggeration is acceptable if it helps us defeat a competitor.  But Christian emptying means choosing honesty in the workplace as well.  We should not work diligently only when our supervisor is watching; we should be faithful even when no one sees us.  We must not use others for our own benefit.  We must not lie or speak maliciously about competitors in order to bring them down.  We must not misuse company property, time, or resources as though they belonged to us personally.  Even when we encounter unfair treatment, we must not repay evil with evil.  Why?  Because the ultimate Master we serve is not a human being, but God.  Ephesians 6:7 says: “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people.”  Emptying in the workplace means emptying ourselves of a life governed by the eyes of other people and living honestly before the eyes of God.

 

Emptying Is Expressed through Service

 

From what we have seen so far, it becomes clear where Christian emptying leads.  Emptying naturally leads to a life of service.  Through His self-emptying, Jesus became a servant, and as a servant He served us.  In Matthew 20:27–28, the Lord said: “Whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  Jesus’ emptying moved toward the cross.  And on that cross, the Lord gave His life for us.  Therefore, Christian emptying must lead to a life of loving and building up others.  Only when I empty myself of the desire to be at the center can I truly notice the needs of others and serve them in love.  In this way, emptying makes love possible, and love expresses itself through service.

 

Three Ways to Practice “Emptying” Every Day

 

How, then, can we train ourselves in emptying in our daily lives?  Ask yourself three questions each day.

 

First, what am I holding on to today?

 

Examine what you may be clinging to excessively.  It may be money.  It may be honor or status.  It may be the approval of others.  It may be your own will and plans.  It may be past wounds or resentment.  Acknowledge it honestly before God and empty yourself of it.

 

Second, what will I choose today?

 

Emptying does not end in our thoughts.  How will I speak when I am angry?  How will I act when I suffer a loss?  How will I treat someone who does not recognize or appreciate me?  How will I receive someone whose views differ from mine?  It is precisely in moments like these that self-denial becomes real.  Choose the way of the Word rather than the way your emotions want to go.

 

Third, what will I use to fill the place I have emptied?

 

Do not stop after emptying.  Do not stop after emptying.  Fill the emptied place with the Word and the mind of Christ.  Above all, choose the mind of Christ.  When emptying and filling go together in this way, our faith moves beyond mere self-discipline and becomes a path of discipleship through which we grow in the likeness of Christ.

 

Emptying Leads to a Life of Service

 

Christian emptying does not simply mean giving up what belongs to me.  It means acknowledging that I am not the Lord of my life.  It means emptying myself of my own will and choosing the will of God.  It means emptying myself of greed and choosing love.  It means emptying myself of my rights and choosing service.  It means emptying myself of self-glory and exalting Christ.  And it means filling the emptied place with the Word of God and the mind of Christ.  Just as Jesus humbled Himself and took the form of a servant, we too must humble ourselves in our daily lives and serve our neighbors in love.  Therefore, Christian emptying can be summarized in one sentence: “Emptying myself of the desire to be my own master and offering myself to God so that Christ may be the Lord of my life.”  And this emptying must necessarily move to the next step.  The person who empties himself becomes a person who serves.  If Jesus emptied Himself and became a servant, then we who follow Him must likewise empty ourselves and move into the place of serving our neighbors.