A Call for Humility

A Call for Humility Are you humble or proud? Humility is a crucial quality in the life of a follower of Jesus. But what does that mean for your life? Peter begins the last chapter of his first letter by teaching how leaders in the church should lead. This leads him into a discussion of the importance and nature of humility for all believers. Let us begin by reading 1 Peter 5:1-4. To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers - not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. What is an elder? Literally the word means an older man. The emphasis here though is on maturity rather than age. Among the Jews, an elder was a leader in the synagogue. In the early church, it was a leader of the local assembly. Peter calls himself an elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings. A witness gives testimony of what he has seen or experienced. An elder is an experienced Christian who can help others through trials. An elder is called to be a shepherd of God's flock. The title of pastor means shepherd. The pastor leads others to the water of life and the pastures of God's word. The shepherd feeds others God's truth so that they will grow. The pastor protects others from the destroying wolves of false teaching. The shepherd treats others as God's flock, not as one's own. An elder is also called to be an overseer of God's work. The overseer or bishop supervises all the work of the people of the church. The emphasis is on willing service, not on taking authority over others. Peter's main concern involves the attitude of the elder. This will lead his comments to humility. In verse 4, he stresses that the church leader serves under a Superior. Jesus is the Chief Shepherd. All Christians are to humbly serve under Him. Jesus will come one day to judge our service with a reward for the faithful, an unfailing crown of glory. Jesus has expectations for His under-shepherds. He looks for willing service. You are to lead as a volunteer, not because you must. Serving under compulsion brings little blessing. He looks for pure motives. You must not be greedy for money. Be honest both in handling money of the church and in preaching the truth. Be eager to serve regardless of pay, motivated by love of God and of others. Jesus is looking for servant leadership. Do not lord it over those entrusted to your care. Do not domineer over them like worldly leaders. Lead by your example. And set that example by leading others through serving them. While Peter was speaking to elders, these instructions have application to all Christians. Be willing to take leadership responsibility when Christ calls you to it. Be motivated by love, not by greed or pride. Lead others by example and by serving them. Live a lifestyle of humility before God. God expects humility of all Christians. Listen now to verses 5-7. 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. Peter continues an emphasis on submission using the words in the same way. In chapter two he told us to submit to every authority and then told slaves to submit to their masters in the same way. In chapter three, he uses in the same way for wives to submit and for husbands to be considerate. Now he tells young men to be submissive in the same way and for all to be humble to one another. Submission is an expression of a humble attitude. Peter tells all of us to clothe ourselves with humility. This verb seems to mean to put on the servant's apron. We are to wear the towel like Jesus when He humbled Himself and washed His disciples' feet. This attitude is toward one another in the church. Everyone is to humbly serve everyone else. God blesses the humble. This is a common theme in scripture. When Peter says, God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble, he quotes Proverbs 3:34. James quotes the same verse in James 4:6. Jesus affirms this principle in Matthew 23:12 which says whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. This is a two-sided principle. The word proud is formed from the words "appear" and "above". Pride is a high opinion of oneself which wants others to see one as higher than them. The word humble, in contrast, means lowly. A humble person sees the value of others and is willing to submit to them and to serve them. God will always oppose the proud and bring them down. God will always give grace to the humble and at some point, lift them up. How should we respond? The NIV translates verse 6 as Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. The verb here is passive and should read "be humbled." Allow God to humble you. Submit to trials as God's training and discipline. If you think you can make yourself humble, that is pride. We need God to enable humility in us. If we are humble, He will exalt us in due time, at the proper season, probably meaning at His appearing, His return. So, how do we recognize humility in us? Peter responds that we should be casting all our anxieties on Jesus. Anxiety makes us unfruitful and destroys us. Pride will cause an attitude of self-sufficiency resulting in our holding on to our anxieties. True humility relies on Jesus for all our needs. Humility then acts in faith knowing that God cares for us. There are other marks of true humility. The humble person will submit to God, following His leading in all things and accepting His discipline in times of trial while waiting for His deliverance. The humble person will submit to others, seeing everyone as worthy of honor from themselves and serving them sacrificially out of love. And the humble person denies self-sufficiency and relies on Jesus to supply all of one's needs. Does your approach to life stir God's opposition through pride or receive His grace in humility? Do you hinder the church either by reluctance to be a leader due to lack of faith or by leading in a self- seeking way due to pride? Are you willing to humbly serve others and lead them by your example? Are you allowing God to humble you under His mighty hand?