Humbly Casting

I would suspect that when you get up every morning, there is a certain order by which you do things. Think about this with me: When you get up in the morning, there is a certain routine that happens. For me, I find myself doing the same things over and over each day. I get up, I go to the bathroom, I shave, I shower, I take my medicine and vitamins, I get my coffee, I read and study then I carry out the daily tasks.

We are creatures of habit.

In fact, when I miss steps I get out of sorts.

From a biblical perspective, there are things we must do in order to best do other things! Today’s passage is a wonderful example of this!

1 Peter 5:5–7 NIV84

Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Submission is theme throughout 1 Peter: the government; slaves and masters; husbands and wives

Peter continues this idea speaking to first the young men: be submissive to those that are older.

Students are you being submissive to those that are older than you? Are you treating them with respect?

Hebrews 13:7 NIV84

Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

James 4:6 NIV84

But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

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How are you in treating others that are older than you?

This passage in its context is more likely to mean that those that are younger and inferior should submit themselves to the elder, to give respect and reverence to them and yield to their teachings, their correcting and their authority.

Hebrews 13:17 NIV84

Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.

We would do well to submit to those in our church who have much to teach us. We that are older would also do well to be willing to teach those that are not as old.

Peter then shifts into a reminder of an attitude of humility.

Humility

We are called to clothe ourselves in humility.

Humility

Humility is an interesting word. The dictionary says that humility is the quality or condition of being humble. Humble means “not to be proud or arrogant, to lower in condition, importance or dignity.”

Our study of 1 Peter has already shown this idea:

1 Peter 3:8 NIV84

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.

Here, Peter says “clothe yourselves in humility.”

Then Peter quotes

Proverbs 3:34 NIV84

He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble.

Proverbs 3:34

So it is evident that God desires you and me to be humble. In otherwords, we are not to be proud or arrogant. Rather we are to lower ourselves in condition, importance and dignity.

Peter had to have thought about Jesus when he was thinking about this!

He had to have thought about Jesus, the King of Kings pulling off his outer garment and washing the disciples’ feet.

He had to have thought about Jesus, the Lord of Lords, taking the ear of Malchus that Peter had cut off in the Garden when Jesus was arrested and putting that ear back on and healing him.

He had to have thought about Jesus, the Word that became flesh, and said “peace be still” to the stormy seas.

Jesus, humbled Himself in order that He might die a criminal’s death so that you and I could reign eternally in His kingdom!

Did you clothe yourself in humility this morning?

James 4:6 NIV84

But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

The bible tells us that if we are humble we will receive His grace. I don’t know about you, but I sure do need His grace more and more! So according to Peter, if I am practicing humility, I am going to be given grace.

Jesus said it this way:

Matthew 23:12 NIV84

For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

I can be humble or I can get humbled.

It becomes a matter of choice. I can choose which way to go. I can have the attitude that God wants me to have and be rewarded as such, or I can be miserable not allowing God to be manifested in my life.

You see, If I am of the attitude that I will be humble, then whatever happens in my life I will say Blessed be the Name of the Lord!

I will say Glory to God in this trial because I know that my God is in control.

I will see His goodness and grace no matter what happens!

It is in humility that I will be submissive to others.

We can never be submissive to each other until we are submissive to God!

It takes grace to submit to another believer, but God can give that grace if we humble ourselves before Him!

Submission is an act of faith. We are saying, “God I trust you, therefore I am going to submit and be humble.”

Now notice also that Peter offers an additional word of assurance here:

1 Peter 5:6 NIV84

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

“…In Due Time.”

God never exalts anyone unt that person is ready for it! First the cross, then the crown. First the suffering, then the glory!

Here is the way this passage progressess:

Unless we meet the conditions laid out in verses 5-6, we cannot claim the wonderful promises of verse 7!

1 Peter 5:7 NIV84

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

I remember fishing lots with my grandfather. He had a few ponds and rivers we would go to and we would slay the fish. The last time I fished with him, we were fishing in the Roanoke Sound at the Outer Banks. My brother in law took us out and we were fishing along the old highway 64 bridge right outside of Manteo, North Carolina. We started catching striped bass one right after the other! I bet we caught over 50 fish in an hour and half. We casted and reeled and casted and reeled over and over until we just got tired of doing so! My brother-in-law Tom said “I have heard of that happening here but have never experienced it before!” To which my grandfather smiled and said, “that’s because you have never fished with a couple of Marlowe’s before!”

I tell you that fish story mostly to brag… but I also tell you that fish story because remember Peter was a fisherman and he new about casting nets and pulling them back up. He knew what it was like to hear his Master say, “Try casting your net on the other side” when they had been fishing all night and had not caught a thing. He new the tremendous burden of pulling that heavy load of fish in after casting.

However, Peter is saying to cast your anxiety....cast your burdens....cast your worries on the Lord. You have heard me say multiple times…GOD IS BIGGER!

God is big enough to handle your anxiety!

God is big enought to handle your burdens!

God is big enough to handle your worries!

God is big enough to handle your concerns!

Peter says to cast your anxiety on the Lord. Notice what the old fisherman does not say here: He does not say in any form whatsoever what to do have you have made that cast. You see, we are prone to be like fisherman, cast and then reel it back in hoping to have a prize fish on the other end of that line!

We are to cast, and then just leave it there. In other words, I am going to put my burden on my spiritual hook if you will, and throw it straight out to the vast sea of our Lord, lay down my pole and walk away trusting that the Lord is able to handle keeping it there!

One more fish story and then I am done:

Several years ago, I was pier fishing on the Outer Banks. Typically, when I have pier fished, I have at least 2 poles that I use. This day I was fishing with 2 poles, and while tending to one pole, something hit the line from my other pole and the line took off and I watched my nice surf fishing pole go over the edge of the pier and down into the ocean. I stood there in shock and disbelief, wondering what in the world hit that pole to take it like that. I went out to my car, and got a bigger pole, rigged it up, and cast it right back in the same area where I had lost my pole. I began to reel it back in and felt a tug, but wasn’t sure if I was hung or had a fish. I continued to reel it back in and watched something break the surface of the water and couldn’t believe what I saw. I had hooked my other pole that I had lost, and was able to reel it back in and retrieve my pole. The line was broken, the 1000 pound fish that had hit that line of course was gone.

The purpose of me telling you this very true story is not only to tell you how good of a fisherman I am or about the “one that got away.” My purpose is that even when we can cast our anxiety on the Lord, there are times when you and I go to great lengths to try to reel back that which was already cast. Whatever reason, maybe it was because like having a problem, maybe we think God is not big enough to handle what we throw to Him, maybe we have a tendency to not trust Him enough.

I am learning to cast it and leave it there. I am well aware that I am capable of figuring out a way to get it back for whatever reason. Maybe it is because you have become comfortable with that burden. May it is because you have a problem just being stubborn. Nevertheless, it is a problem of Lordship: Either Jesus is Lord of all or He is not Lord at all.

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The lesson here is three-fold:

That we submit and trust His ordered way!

That we humbly accept what He has called us to be and do.

And finally, that we cast our anxiety on Him and live a life without worry, because HE IS CAPABLE, HE IS ABLE, HE IS BIGGER, AND HIS WAY IS ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS AND IN ALL WAYS....BETTER THAN MY BEST WAY.