The End of Humility

"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time" -1 Peter 5.6

Humility before God is going to happen, but we are given the opportunity to choose to be humble now. When we make that choice, humility has a ending. When we choose to be humble before God, He will exalt us at the proper time.

Philippians 2.5-9 says, "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. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name".

Jesus humbled Himself, setting aside aspects of His divinity to become a man, and as a man, to offer Himself as the final sacrifice for sin. Crucifixion was a death of shame, he victim was exposed, and his crime was announced by a sign nailed above the head or hung around the neck. Christ's death was a further humiliation because it separated Him from God. However, Christ's willing humiliation ended. He received a proper burial in the new tomb of a rich man. Afterward His resurrection, He is given the name Lord (Philippians 2.11) the name above every name, and every knee will bow before Him and every tongue will declare His title. His willing humility came to and end, and when the will of God had been accomplished, Christ was highly exalted.

Romans 8.17 says that we are "fellow heirs with Christ", meaning we will receive the same things that Christ has inherited. We will not be worshiped as Lord, that is the exclusive right and honor of Jesus for His sacrifice and obedience, but those who humble themselves before God will be exalted by God. Anything that we endure in obedience to God will be rewarded by God. Anything we sacrifice for God will be replaced by God. All willing humility will be honored by God. This is not to say that humility will bring financial wealth or security, but that the exaltation and reward that God has in store will far exceed anything we may face for submitting to God.

Just as God does no overlook good leadership, He does not neglect willful humility. Those who humble themselves before God will be exalted by God, and those who exalt themselves will be humbled by God. Humility has its end, and it brings exaltation.


Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11

TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!