Because "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6), this book affirms the importance and practical spiritual effects of humility, particularly as exemplified in the life of Jesus Christ. Philippians 2:5-7 emphasizes that Christ began his earthly ministry by becoming "nothing" or by "emptying himself" as some translations phrase it, and thus Christ's humility throughout the book is referred to as his "nothingness." This is contrasted with the secular philosophy of the world which influences us to be "something" by attaining wealth, position, and influence. This is referred to as our "somethingness," that is, our preoccupation and desire to be "something." By embracing humility we are able to transform our perspective of the world and our role in it, avoiding painful disappointments from unfulfilled and unreasonable expectations.