Serve with Humility

Humility hasn’t always been a virtue!

In ancient times humility was often seen as weakness.

Those at the top were expected to be proud, everything others did and said was shapped to feed their ego and to demonstrate that those below them honoured their standing.

The Biblical teaching, which we encounter in letters like 1 Peter, stood in sharp contrast to this attitude.

And it is primarily because of the influence of Christianity on our culture that humility is now seen as a virtue.

So when we look at the words in 1 Peter, especially the instructions to serve, to do so for the right reasons and not to lord it over others we don’t see anything remarkable.

But we should, we should see that the call for a disciple of Christ to serve others with humility, not for what they can gain, is a radical approach.

An approch which over the course of time has turned a perceived weakness into a virtue.

Right now the Australian people love a tennis player by the name of Ash Barty.

Ash Bary is a brilliant player, but there are some notable men in the Australian team who are also brilliant.

Why does the public love Ash so much, even when she doesn’t win?

It is because of her humilty.

Ash is seen as a humble person wether she wins or looses.

Some of the men are enjoyed for their entertainment value only when they play well and seen as arrogant fools at other times.

Humility, especially in public figures is seen as a virtue.

So we have to ask ourselves why does the church so often have a problem with leaders who lack humility, who see that the rules don’t apply to them and they bring disrepute on the church.

We have in recent history seen so many church leaders fall.

It seemed like every other week some mega church pastor is the USA would come crashing down for some reason and at the centre of the issue was a lack of hmility and service in one form or another.

In Australia it seemed like every month another allegation or conviction for sexual abuse was paraded on TV.

Why is there a problem within the church when Scripture clearly teaches that humility should be a characteristic of our faith?

The Problem of Sinful Motivation

1 Peter 5:2-3 lists for us three sins which can characterise leadership within the church.

Firstly we have the the concept which the NLT translates as grudgingly.

Leaders who serve out of a sense of obligation, or because no one else will do it, or because they feel they are the only one qualified face the danger of not working to advance the cause of the church as they should.

The least fuss, the least change and the least amont of interuption to the role are poor principles on which to build the kingdom.

When a church faces difficulties, as the churches to whom Peter wrote most certainly were you don’t need lackluster leadership.

Especially in situations of persecution for then they will be tempted to choose compromise.

Instead there is the call to serve willingly, to serve because that is what God desires.

To have a sense that this is what I am called to do as a servant of God, to invest my life and energy into the kingdom for the honour of Christ.

Secondly we have the idea of serving because of what you can get out of it.

The concept is raised again and again and must have been a big cause of concern for the early church.

Greed, corruption, dishonest gain, love of money are terms used is such passages as Ttius1:7, 1 Timothy 3:3, 2 Corinthians 2:17, 11:7-15, 1 Timothy 6:5-10, 2 Peter 2:3, 2 Peter 2:14-15 and Jude 11.

In a time when getting to the top of the pile was a major concern the church had to be careful that it dodn’t allow the same sort of motivation instead people were called to serve eagerly.

To eagerly serve God to desire what he desired.

That is that people would grow int heir love for him and knowledge of him.

Thirdly we have the idea of lording it over people.

There is no room in God ‘s church for forcefully ruling or subduing, to use threats, emotional intimidation or the flaunting of power over others.

Politics and power are never good news for a church.

Instead leadership in the church is to be by example.

That was the teaching and example of Jesus.

The Apostle Paul went so far as to say on numerous occassions that the church should follow his example as he followed Christ. (1 Cor. 4:16; 11:1; Phil. 3:17; 4:9; 2 Thess. 3:7–9, Timothy, Titus)

The antidote to all these things is a recognition that it is Christ who we serve, for his glory, for the benefit of his kingdom and that we to are pilgrims on a journey, not by any means perfect but desiring to honour Christ through humbly serving.

For as the Apostle says in verse 4 our reward is not here on earth.

It is in heaven.

The early church was not immune to the problems which have been common throughout the ages.

People seeking leadership for the wrong reasons was soemthing that the Apostles warned the church about on numerous occassions.

People not accepting the authority of leaders and wanting to do tehri own thing was also a problem.

Both Peter and Paul spoke of the challenge of youth and in verse 5 we see that Peter addresses theri reluctance to accept authority.

Now while the NLT translates as young men many commentators and other translations see that the term applies to “those who are younger”.

The Greek when refering to people in general uses the male form but it is the context that usually determines if the intent is people or male persons.

Those who are younger almost certanly means more than just youth in this context.

It is an instruction to all those who are not elders, that is the rest of the congregation, to accept the leaders authority.

For how can you have leaders is no one follows their leading.

Here we see the mutuality that permiates all roels within the church.

A leader leads for the benefit of the people being lead and the growth of the kingdom.

Those being led follow for their own growth and benefit, the growth and benefit of the person leading and the growth of the kingdom.

Proverbs 3:34 (NLT)

34 The Lord mocks the mockers but is gracious to the humble.

You may not realise this but Pastors talk to each other.

We share struggles and heartaches.

We share hopes and dreams … and the opposition we encounter.

And when I think of every situation I am aware of where there have been problems there is a common denominator.

It is pride in some form and a lack of humility.

Thomas Schreiner in the New American Commentary on 1 Peter says this

Smooth relations in the church can be preserved if the entire congregation adorns itself with humility.

When believers recognize that they are creatures and sinners, they are less apt to be offended by others. Humility is the oil that allows relationships in the church to run smoothly and lovingly. Pride gets upset when another does not follow our own suggestions. Peter grounded this admonition with a citation from Prov 3:34, which is also quoted in Jas 4:6.

Believers should heed the injunction to be humble because God sets his face against the proud, but he lavishes his grace upon the humble. Those who submit to God’s sovereignty in humility will find that he will lift them up and reward them.

Relience on God and submission to him are essential elements of the jounrey of humility.

At the heart of any lack of humility is sin.

I am good enough, I deserve this or that.

You must recognise me, I must have my way.

1 Peter 5:6-7 is not just an encouragement to run to God for help when things get tough.

These words are an instruction on the right attitude to have in order to honour God and be in right relationship with him and others.

If we really believe that God is who he says he is, the soveregin Lord of the universe, a God of love and justice.

The one who deserves our worship and dedication simply because he is God, then we need to take relience on him very seriously.

Because if we are not relient on him thenwe do have to ask ourselves the question, “is he really Lord of my life, do i actually recognise God as God?”

Because if we do not recognise God as God then there is a real danger that we still see ourselves as God over our own life.

The wrong attitude here not only shows a lack of understanding on our part, it is also a lack of humility.

And a lack of humility in this regard opens us up to all sorts fo dangers.

Lack of Humility gives the Devil an inroad - 1 Peter 5:8-9

Pride comes before a fall.

And pride is the number one hook that the devil will use to try and pull you over.

The people Peter wrote to were facing persecution for their faith.

The roar of the devil was in their face, terror and despair could have been overwhelming.

Fear of persecution may have caused some to doubt and deny Christ in order to avoid suffering.

But we don’t face those same pressures.

Instead for us the roar of the devil is the temptation to chase the things of this world.

Comfort, pleasure, independence, lack of true accountability.

Humble dependence on God is the antidote to these things.

The recognition that the Lord is supreme, he is God and we can do nothing but fall at his feet in worship.

God has chosen to include us in his kingdom.

Through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.

Through his victory over death we have the priviledge of entry into heaven.

The kingdom is there for us, in the here and now and in the future.

God has openned the door.

But if we do not have humility we will be hooked, we will fall away.

We will swollow the lie that we don’t really need God and we can do things on our own.

We will swallow the lie that others owe us something.

We will swallow the lie that others don’t matter as much as us.

This is the trap that the church today in Australia has to be so careful of.

Humility isn’t optional.

Verses 10 and 11 speak of God’s kindness through Christ placing us on a firm foundation.

There is a promise that we look forward to and it starts with recognising our place

God is sovereign, Christ has redeemned us.

Our purpose is not self, it is to live to honour God through our worship, through our words, through our actions and attitudes.

We need in all aspects of church life, wether as a leader, a member of the congregation, in relationship to each other and with all around us to walk with humility.