How far did Christ's obedience go according to Paul?
According to Paul, Christ's obedience went all the way to death—even the death of the cross. He humbled Himself voluntarily, leaving His riches to become poor and taking the role of a slave for our salvation, obedient unto death.
Les explains that Paul uses Christ as the example in relation to Christian giving. Christ did not have to humble Himself; it was of His own volition. He left His area of being rich, became poor, was found in the likeness of men, humbled Himself, and became obedient even unto death, and the death of the cross on top of that. Les teaches that if God in the person of Christ was willing to leave absolute control of the universe and take on the role of a slave for our salvation, then we should have the same attitude and not say we cannot give. Paul applies this to the Corinthians' readiness to will and to perform out of what they have.
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.