Humility

"You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble." -1 Peter 5.5

I'm going to apologize now if any of this is random babel that makes no sense. I'm fight to keep my eyes open as I write this.

Peter has indicated that there is to be a relationship between those who are younger and the elders. This is to be a humble attitude that seeks to learn, and this learning is to take place in the context of community. However, for learning to take place, someone must be willing to teach, and to teach well, humility is essential. Because of all of this, the whole community is called to cover themselves with humility.

It takes humility to teach, because so much of teaching comes out of failure. Teaching from success simply shows the student what has been done. It lays a foundation and encourages them to dream bigger to push the limits. Teaching from failure, however, allows the student to connect with the teacher on a more personal level. Suddenly the teacher is not someone who is infallible, but a real person who has lived the subject. This makes a student want to connect more with the teacher.

Humility is essential beyond the role of teacher and student, elder and young man, leader and follower. Humility is essential for society as a whole. My mind keeps going to Philippians 2.1-11, but I'm only going to look at verses 1-8 in this post.

Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

This attitude is not natural, which is why we are told to clothe ourselves in humility. It takes an intentional action and attitude to be humble, and this is the intentionality found in Christ. Jesus, God the Son, gave up so much of His Divinity (He was still fully God, even as a man), and took on human flesh, being born in a stable, the dinner companion of sinners, and the toucher of untouchables. He, the rabbi, stooped with a basin and a towel to wash the feet of his own followers, include those of the one who would betray Him, and then laid down His life on the cross. This is the attitude the Bible calls us to live with.

We must be quick and eager to serve, humbly doing what we can in order to bless others. This goes against our natural tendency and inclinations, so let us intentionally choose to cover ourselves in humility, learning from those who have lived more fully, and serving those we have the opportunity to serve.


Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11

TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!