How Humility Manifests itself
“You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”-{1 Peter 5:5-7}.
The word “Humble,” is a Greek term that came to speak of “a work apron,” that a slave put on to keep from getting their clothes dirty. And it came to speak of Humble service! It is to put on an attitude of humility, to serve others. Paul summed it up when he wrote, “ourselves your servants, for Jesus sake.”-{2 Cor 4:5.} Here we see his ministry and motivation for Humbly serving others! The Humble person is God conscious, living in dependence upon Him and concerned with the needs and interests of others as Phil 2:3-5 shows.
From 1 Peter 5:5-7, we can say,
Humble people Serve others. -“…clothe yourselves with humility toward one another.”
Humble People Submit to God. -“…humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, ”
Humble people have Hope in God -“…that He may exalt you… ”
Humble people Trust God’s Timing. – “…that He may exalt you at the proper time, ”
Humble People Give All of their Anxieties to God. -“…casting all your anxiety on Him,”
Humble People Believe God Cares for them. – “…because He cares for you.”
Proud people Don’t!
TWO REASONS FOR HUMILITY
- We are Created and God is the Creator.
- God made all people in His image- Therefore we are on equal footing, not above, or below others. Pride says we are Humility knows the truth and takes its rightful place before God and towards others!
God is opposed to the proud,-Pride was the sin of satan in Isaiah 14:12-15. Pride sees itself as in the top seat and if not desiring and therefore prides plans, opinions, desires are uppermost and grates against the Sovereignty of God and His plans and chaffs at anything that opposes it’s will. Pride is a breathing ground for anxiety. And God is opposes to the proud. The word “opposed” is used of to set an army against, lining up in battle order. The idea is to resist, oppose, to be hostile towards! But God gives Grace to the humble. God blesses the Humble! When under pressure, attacks of anxious thoughts, it takes humility to trust in Him and to be honest you have to be convinced “He cares for you,” otherwise you will be battered about like a cork on a violent raging sea, with the waves crashing, and hurtling to great heights and then to the crashing deeps, and as a result no stability!
At times we exhibit pride as His people…and upon realizing it, we need to humble ourselves to Him, confess our sin and begin afresh.. Pride is destructive, Grace is our need, His favor, kindness, blessing, empowerment to live out the Christian life!
Humility is imperative to deal with anxiety as the passage speaks of. Humble people acknowledges their need of GOD, pride refuses, rejects Him and instead seeks to handle it in their own power, their own bankrupt resources. We have all responded that way, sometimes out of ignorance or un-Godly habit, sometimes overwhelmed and overcome and now we can know from His Word that we can overcome the temptation to submit to anxieties by submitting to Him and humbling ourselves, taking up our rightful place before Him in need of Him and in submission to Him and taking Him at His Word!
Humility reflects the character of Christ-{Read Matt 11:29} and Reflects Him in submission and trusts Him!