Too Big for Your Britches

"In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus." — Philippians 2:5

I’m not sure where the saying originated, but it seems fittingly Midwestern. When I was little and feeling a bit too full of myself, my mom would say, “You’re getting too big for your britches.” Yes, I actually knew what britches were—but more importantly, I knew what she meant. My ego was getting the better of me. At some point, she stopped saying it—not necessarily because I stopped needing the reminder, but probably because she saw me less often.

I doubt I’m alone in this. We all have moments when our self-importance swells beyond what’s healthy. Paul must have encountered this in Philippi, because he reminds the church to imitate Christ’s mindset. He continues in verses 6–8:

"Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!"

So what does it mean to have the mindset of Christ in our relationships today?

It means choosing humility when pride would be easier. It means listening more than we speak, especially when we’re convinced we’re right. It means showing up—not to be seen, but to serve. In a culture that prizes self-promotion and platform-building, Christ’s example calls us to downward mobility: to take the lower seat, to wash feet, to bear burdens that aren’t our own.

It might look like forgiving someone who hasn’t asked for it. Or stepping back from a heated debate to ask, “What does love require of me here?” It might mean letting go of the need to be impressive and instead being present. 

And it certainly means re-centering ourselves in Christ—allowing his Spirit to shape our instincts, our reactions, our posture toward others. When we re-center in Christ, we remember that our worth isn’t earned—it’s a gift of his grace, our status isn’t the goal, and our calling is always toward love.

Sometimes it means recognizing when we’re getting too big for our britches. That phrase still echoes in my memory—not as a rebuke, but as a gentle nudge back to grace because the mindset of Christ isn’t about shrinking ourselves in shame, but about expanding our capacity for love, for mercy, for surrender.

Lord Jesus, you who emptied yourself for our sake, teach us to walk in your humility. When our egos swell and our tempers flare, remind us of your quiet strength and servant heart. Help us to see others not as obstacles or opponents, but as your beloved creation and siblings on the journey. May your mindset shape our relationships, our choices, and our witness. Re-center us in your grace when we drift toward self-importance and remind us that love is always the higher way. And when we get too big for our britches, pull us gently back to you. Amen.

Peace & Grace,

Pastor Tim