The Clothes of Humility
1 Peter 5:5-6 (ESV)
“Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility one toward another, for God ‘opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you.”
It is very clear from this passage that God wants us to be humble. There is however a problem when we try to achieve humility. Most who strive to be humble are actually disguising their own pride. This is widely seen throughout history when men endure all methods of denying their physical needs to reach a state of humility. In their efforts they want others to see what they have given up to become so humble. Very few are impressed with someone trying to be humble. The real issue is finding true humility.
The absence of pride is true humility. This is rarely seen at home, at work, or even driving to work. Our forms of entertainment or on social media demonstrate very little humility. What God wants is for us to care more for others than ourselves. We cannot be truly humble because we cannot rid ourselves of pride. God, however, has provided a solution for our problem.
The answer is found in God’s Son Jesus. Philippians 2:5-7 says, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God. . . emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross.”
God dealt with man’s pride by sending His Son to suffer man’s worst form of death and humiliation. Jesus humbled Himself and submitted Himself to the cross, so that all who believe and receive God’s gift by faith will have eternal life. God’s way of salvation has completely removed all of man’s effort.
Through the transforming power of God, true humility begins at salvation and continues when living in the power of the Holy Spirit. For the believer, there is no need to work to be humble: Just wear the clothes of humility God has given. Just like sports teams put on their jerseys to represent their team, Christians have to put on clothes of humility to represent Christ.
This week, let’s spend less time taking selfies, tweeting, or going on Facebook, and instead spend more time praising and thanking God for what Jesus has done for us.