Let us read today from 1 Peter 5:5,6 “You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time”. Most of the time, we have condition in our heart – pride. God opposes the proud and He will not give grace to the proud. We need to submit ourselves to God and allow Him to show us the areas where we are proud. When we humble ourselves in God’s hands, He will exalt us in the proper time – not in a time that we decide. In the situations that we go through, God wants us to remain humble without grumbling or complaining.
In this chapter in verses 1-4 we read of the exhortation given to elders to shepherd the flock of God voluntarily and not for sordid gain. They are also encouraged to be examples to the flock. After this in verse 5, Peter exhorts the younger men to be clothed in humility. In the context of our family life; are we clothed in humility to one another? In 1 Kings 21 we read of Naboth. Naboth had a vineyard which King Ahab wanted. Naboth was hesitant to give it because it was ancestral property. King Ahab was upset since he really wanted the vineyard. Ahab had lust in heart and followed the evil plan that his wife advises in order to get the vineyard. God sent a message to Ahab through Elijah because he sold himself to do evil in the sight of the Lord (v20). It is very easy to give in to evil plots if our heart is not controlled by the Holy Spirit. We see Ahab’s reaction in v27, “It came about when Ahab heard these words, that he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and fasted, and he lay in sackcloth and went about despondently.” God saw how Ahab humbled himself and repented and God decided not to bring any evil during the days of Ahab. Tearing off their clothes and wearing sackcloth was a sign of repentance for the Israelites. Clothing ourselves with humility should start with repentance.
Our humility should start in our homes – between husband and wife. Our words should be graceful. In Luke 22 we see how there was a dispute among the disciples as to who was greater among them. Jesus said that the one who serves is the greatest. In our homes, we need to have this serving mentality. Forgive each other as and when the Holy Spirit gives us prompting. Jesus encourages us to learn from Him because He is gentle and humble. We can learn the gentle and humble nature from the life of Jesus. If the husband and wife live in this manner, our homes will have the atmosphere of heaven. In Ephesians 5 we read Paul’s instructions to husbands and wives. Wives are to be subject to husbands as church is subject to Christ. Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves the church and to love his wife as his own body. How much care we give our bodies, in the same way, husbands need to take care of their wives. In verse 31 we read, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” In the union of a man and his wife, there is a leaving of their parents. The perfect unity happens when the husband and wife are one and decisions are made together. We need to respect our parents and take care of them, but they shouldn’t interfere or rule over the husband and wife.
In Romans 12:3 we read, “For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.” When you are proud and think high of yourselves, God will oppose him. In Galatians 6:3 we read, “For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” We are all nothings. We need to resist Satan’s thoughts of thinking highly of ourselves. We need to sanctify ourselves daily in this area. We need to clothe ourselves in humility daily. Only through sanctification we can see God. In James 4: 5-7 Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”? But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” We have heard of the example of the layers of the onion. When God shows one layer of pride in our hearts, we should repent, ask God for help and humble ourselves in that area. Then God will show us the next layer. In this way, pride in our life will be completely removed. When we submit to God He will help us and when we are puffed up, His grace won’t be there with us. May God help us to clothe ourselves with humility at all times.
