Generally our perspective of humility is that it is a virtue that recognizes our poverty, lowliness, and misery and our conformity to those conditions. Humility is the lack of nobility. But, is this the Biblical significance of humility? As we will be able to see, the true definition of humility is the recognition of our total dependence in God and our dependence on others.
Likewise, ye younger, be subject unto the elder. Yea, all of you gird (wrap) yourselves with humility, to serve one another: for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time; casting all your anxiety upon him, because he cares for you.”
1 Peter 5:5-7 ASV
The apostle Peter recommends that we cover ourselves with humility in order to avoid Gods’ opposition to us. He adds that GRACE is given to the humble which would likewise mean that GRACE is NOT given to the proud. So how does Peter say we can be humble? By casting (to deliberately throwing) all our cares, fears, anxieties and needs upon Him.
When we attempt to accomplish Gods favor through our behavior it FRUSTRATES the grace of God. One you are born again if you go back to rule-keeping and peer pleasing what you do is FRUSTRATE God. The meaning of frustrate is: to render vain or ineffectual, to set aside or neutralize, it really thwarts God’s purposes for our lives.
19-21 What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God and it didn’t work. So I quit being a “law man” so that I could be God’s man. Christ’s life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not “mine,” but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that.
Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God’s grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily. Galatians 2.19-21 The Message.
Pride is the attitude that disdains the need for help; it is arrogance and disdain to call for help or to attempt to achieve goals. Pride is also the arrogance to assume that all our achievements were possible because of our knowledge, deeds or actions. Pride says I got it, I can do it, I don’t need your help; humility says: Help me, I need your help.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. James 4.10
Grace is neutralized when there is pride. IF YOU HAVE CONFIDENCE IN YOUR FLESH it is called pride. If you have confidence in God you are being humble because you are acknowledging your total dependence in GOD. You acknowledge where your help comes from. God’s grace is unwarranted and undeserved. You humble yourself by casting all your care upon Him. Carrying your cares is pride.
Do not say in your heart: My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth, and remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may confirm his covenant…. Deuteronomy 8.17-18
Here Moses informs us that God is the one that gives us the capacity, power, means, perseverance and ability to prosper. It is not an innate talent rather we must humbly recognize that it is a divine gift. Humility is our recognition that it is by grace trough faith that God provides for us everything that Jesus has made available to us.
Humility is rooted and grounded in the UNCONDITIONAL LOVE of God. Love gives, Grace imparts and FAITH receives. Mathew 6.34 DO NOT WORRY about tomorrow, God cares for you so you cast your cares upon Him.
Jesus declared on Mathew 6.24:“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. . Do not worry about your life. You can serve pride or humility. When Jesus declared: DO NOT WORRY He was saying: STOP worrying.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 1 Peter 5.8-10
Peter finishes by warning us to be sober and vigilant, there is an adversary, an enemy that wants to come to steal, kill and destroy. He warns us to resist him, How? Being steadfast in faith. He then explains that all Christians go through times of suffering and trials. It is the trying of our faith. If we can learn to resist the sufferings (anxiety, worry, fear, doubt, shame, guilt) from the enemy will PERFECT, ESTABLISH AND STRENGHTREN YOU.
If you don’t cast your cares upon Him, Jesus said the CARES of this world ENTER IN YOUR HEART AND CHOKE (strangle, cut off) the word and the word bears NO FRUIT.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4.6-7
What you talk about you magnify. If thanksgiving is in your lips, faith is in your heart! God promises to guard, protect your heart (emotions) and your mind. (your thoughts)