Be Humble (1 Peter 5:5–7)

Peter had already admonished the saints to be submissive to government authorities (1 Peter 2:13–17), the slaves to submit to their masters (1 Peter 2:18–25), and the wives to their husbands (1 Peter 3:1–7). Now he commanded all of the believers to submit to God and to each other.

I. Humility is not demeaning ourselves and thinking poorly of ourselves.

5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

A. The younger believers should submit to the older believers.

They should submit not only out of respect for their age, but also out of respect for their spiritual maturity. Not every “senior saint” is a mature Christian, of course, because quantity of years is no guarantee of quality of experience. This is not to suggest that the older church members “run the church” and never listen to the younger members!

Too often there is a generation war in the church, with the older people resisting change, and the younger people resisting the older people!

B. The solution is twofold.

All believers, young and old, should submit to each other; all should submit to God. “Be clothed with humility” is the answer to the problem.

Just as Jesus laid aside His outer garments and put on a towel to become a servant, so each of us should have a servant’s attitude and minister to each other.

II. We can never be submissive to each other until we are first submissive to God.

6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,

A. God resists the proud because God hates the sin of pride.

It was pride that turned Lucifer into Satan (Isa. 14:12–15). It was pride—a desire to be like God—that stirred Eve to take the forbidden fruit. “The pride of life” is an evidence of worldliness. The only antidote to pride is the grace of God, and we receive that grace when we yield ourselves to Him. The evidence of that grace is that we yield to one another.

Submission is an act of faith. We are trusting God to direct in our lives and to work out His purposes in His time. After all, there is a danger in submitting to others; they might take advantage of us—but not if we trust God and if we are submitted to one another! A person who is truly yielded to God, and who wants to serve his fellow Christians, would not even think of taking advantage of someone else, saved or unsaved. The “mighty hand of God” that directs our lives can also direct in the lives of others.

B. The key, of course, is the phrase “in due time.”

God never exalts anyone until that person is ready for it. First the cross, then the crown; first the suffering, then the glory. Moses was under God’s hand for forty years before God sent him to deliver the Jews from Egypt. Joseph was under God’s hand for at least thirteen years before God lifted him to the throne.

One of the evidences of our pride is our impatience with God, and one reason for suffering is that we might learn patience (James 1:1–6). Here Peter was referring to words he heard the Master say: “For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted” (Luke 14:11).

III. God takes care of our burdens.

7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

A. We need to meet the conditions in vv.5-6

If we don;t meet those conditions then we cannot claim the wonderful promise of v.7. The word translated “care” means “anxiety, the state of being pulled apart.” When circumstances are difficult, it is easy for us to be anxious and worried; but if we are, we will miss God’s blessing and become poor witnesses to the lost.

We need His inward peace if we are going to triumph in the fiery trial and bring glory to His name. we must once and for all give all of our cares—past, present, and future—to the Lord. We must not hand them to Him piecemeal, keeping those cares that we think we can handle ourselves.

B. How does God show His love and care for us when we give our cares to Him?

He gives us the courage to face our cares honestly and not run away. He gives us the wisdom to understand the situation. He gives us the strength to do what we must do. And He gives us the faith to trust Him to do the rest.

Some people give God their burdens and expect Him to do everything! It is important that we let Him work in us as well as work for us, so that we will be prepared when the answer comes.

“Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee” (Ps. 55:22).