Humility

“Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 5:5-6)

The further away someone is from God, the more difficult this passage becomes. It deals with humility and submission, two things carnal man so ardently resists and is his main “dysfunction” with the one infinitely Supreme God.

“submit yourselves unto the elder”. This is a voluntary act of yielding will and authority.

“Submit” and “subject” are derived from the same Greek word, “hypotasso”. It means to subordinate to another.

“…be clothed with humility”. The word “clothed” means to knot or tie two things together. Slaves would tie a white scarf to their belt to designate themself as a bondmen. Likewise, humility is the Christian scarf of subornation to their fellow Christian.

“for God resisteth the proud”. “Resisteth” really does not convey the strength or magnitude of the message. The word comes from the Greek, “antitasso” and means to battle against. In other words, God battles against the proud. It is not a position poised for victory in any sense.

“and giveth grace to the humble.” Grace, that unmerited favor of unlimited Godliness.

“…under the mighty hand of God”. All things are by the help or agency of God. A humble person will know and understand this and will accredit himself of naught.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17).

“…that he may exalt you in due time.” Due time, is God’s perfect time and timing.

There is an interesting and somewhat confusing verse in the Book of Acts. “And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done” (Acts 21:14).

Why would anyone cease to say the Lord’s will be done? Simple. A truly humble spirit knows that under all situations and circumstances that God’s will is and shall be done. Neither we nor any other power, force, principality, creation, or entity can alter, stop, or affect God’s will.

Bill Hitchcock