“Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for
‘God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.'”
But gives grace to the humble
The negative side of this verse is “God resists the proud,” but the positive side is he “gives grace to the humble.” Lack of humility may explain why we do not have enough grace. Since we are not humble, the Lord does not give us his grace.
“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
God gives grace to the humble because the humble person recognizes that everything depends on who God is and what He does. The word “gives” carries the idea that God keeps on giving grace to the humble person, the person who has no illusions about himself and understands that what he has, he has from God.
Grace is God’s unmerited blessing toward the believer, his provision for us that we do not deserve. A humble person is a good receiver. He willingly confesses his need to receive something from God.
“Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty,
And before honor is humility” (Proverbs 18:12).
Before we can receive honor, we must come to the point of humility. If we never come to humility, we will never receive distinction from God. Samuel, speaking to Saul, said,
“So Samuel said, ‘When you were little in your own eyes, were you not head of the tribes of Israel? And did not the LORD anoint you king over Israel?'” (1 Samuel 15:17).
Saul magnified himself in his own eyes, and some Christians magnify ourselves in their own eyes. People generally have an inflated or exaggerated estimation of their ability. Because others do not share that same exaggerated estimation of them, they feel dejected. Their feelings are hurt, and they say, “People do not appreciate me.” Pride is a particular occupational hazard with preachers. It goes with the job. However, is a problem with the congregation when it comes to its relation to the l
We will get no cooperation from God when it comes to pride. Many people struggle with pride in all their lives. Invariably they are proud of things they have no business being proud: pride of race, pride of face, pride of grace. The Devil has much to do with pride:
“Not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he [a pastor] fall into the same condemnation as the devil” (1 Timothy 3:6).
In this context, God gives grace to the congregation who submits to its leadership. If an assembly has no illusions about itself, God will bless it. If people keep their focus on problems in their leadership, they will fall flat on their faces.
Pride = God resists
Humble = God recognizes
PRINCIPLE:
God gives grace to people who recognize their need for God.
APPLICATION:
What do you expect of your pastor or board? Do you expect them never to make a mistake? That is what many people expect. They want a preacher who never sins. Pride both resists and rejects the authority of the leadership of the local church. The “humble” person is the person who looks to the grace of God’s provisions.
Some people believe that being humble is the equivalent of being someone’s doormat. But denying humility does not pretend to be blind to our strong points. There is no humility in disowning that we can do certain things. Similarly, it is not prideful to believe that we can do certain things with excellence. Humility has to do with knowing the source of our strength.
If someone says, “Hey, that was a great sermon,” what is the pastor supposed to say, “Yea, that was a great sermon!!” No leader has ever gone without some compliments in his life. The worst thing that can happen to them is to believe that they are more than they are. When a leader starts believing his clippings, he is in danger of God resisting him. The humble believer has no illusions about himself and anyone else except the Lord.
A humble person does not demand respect from others. This Christian does not need special attention. Maturity comes not by hammering ourselves but by recognizing God’s grace in our lives. God is the giver of the good. He demolishes our pride.
