Readers of James 4 and 1 Peter 5 are confronted with a counter-cultural command. They tell us to humble ourselves; reject our own way and submit to God.
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Humble Yourselves
James 4:10, I Peter 5:6
- The phrase that is our theme of the day appears in two passages
- We’ll take a look at both today
- In them, it is translated “humble yourselves”
- Used twelve other times in the New Testament, it is also translated humble, brought low, or abased
- It is about “assigning yourself a lower rank”
- Or being “ranked below others who are honored or rewarded”
- It is a counter-cultural phrase
- One that our world (certainly) and our sinful flesh (perhaps) will fight against
- But God reminds us twice
- In James 4, and I Peter 5 – “Humble Yourselves”
James 4:1
1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
- This passage begins with internal conflicts that work their way out
- Our desires, sinful lusts, cause wars and fightings among us
- They are a result of pride
- We do what we want, and when we do, never get what we want
- It clarifies…
James 4:2
2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
- God alone can provide what we need
- But His commands go against our fleshly desires
- Those desires lead us far from God into sin
- Instead of providing what we desire, they destroy us
- We ask Him not for what is best
- Even when we do…
James 4:3
3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
- Instead of working for other’s good and God’s glory
- We too often please ourselves
- The next verse describes us…
James 4:4
4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
- To live by our own desires is to live like the world
- To live according to that which the god of this world desires
- Not according to God’s will
- And this puts us directly at odds with God
- Makes us an enemy of God
- The next section elaborates…
James 4:5-7
5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
- We’re dealing with a problem
- Fighting a war within ourselves
- But praise God, He gives grace
- Not to the proud, which He resists
- But to the humble
- To those who assign themselves a lower rank
- That follow not their own desires
- But submit to Him
- Fully
- Without reservation
- Not leaving any room for their own will
- Only His will
- These kind of people resist the enemy
- And when we do, He flees
- Furthermore…
James 4:8
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
- If we have any hope of victory in this battle, we must draw near to Him
- To allow Him to cleanse and purify us
- And to set our mind on Him alone once and for all
- This will no doubt cause difficult moments…
James 4:9-10
9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
- The humbling of ourselves is the only way we can be lifted up
- Seeking what He desires, leaving our own desires behind
- Fulfills and satisfies
- In ways no sin ever can, ever has, or ever will
- Humble yourselves
- Who we are in the flesh: lusts, internal conflicts of desire
- What that will cause: betrayal of God, failure, destruction
- God’s character by contrast: He gives grace
- How we must respond: submit fully, arrange ourselves beneath, humble ourselves
I Peter 5:1-7
1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
5 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.
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
- This is an exhortation from Peter
- He can identify with these shepherds, as he is one himself
- He asks them to feed and to oversee
- To be an example, because they have the best example of all
- Never to do so for the wrong motivations
- But to understand who they are and where they rank
- And also the reward that is waiting
- Younger should submit to elder
- And all should submit to one another
- Covering themselves with humility
- Because the prideful are resisted by God
- But grace is given to the humble
- Therefore all of us must humble ourselves
- Because God’s hand is mighty
- And we are under His hand willingly or unwillingly
- We are even more blessed if we put ourselves there willingly
- And we cast our cares upon Him
- Because He truly cares