Humility is your best friend

It’s been said, “Humility is your best friend. Pride is your greatest enemy.” Oscar Levant said, “What the world needs is more geniuses with humility, there are so few of us left!” Seriously, humility is very important. Humility is the opposite of pride and arrogance.

Humility is so important that God fights against the proud but gives grace to the humble. The apostle Peter wrote, “For God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5). God actually takes up arms against the proud. Remember Absalom who fought against his own father David? God opposed Absalom and destroyed him.

How do we build humility into our lives? How can we overcome pride? The answer, once again, is found in the Bible. The Bible is inspired. Inspired means “breathed out.” Just as your words are the product of your breath, God’s Word is the product of His breath. 1 Peter chapter 5 verses 5 to 7 provides three steps for overcoming pride.

The first step is to come under authority. Verse 5 says, “You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders…” God has ordained authority. Authority is necessary to avoid chaos and confusion. God has ordained the family. We are to honor and obey our parents. God has ordained the church. We are to follow church elders. God has ordained the government. Governmental leaders are described as God’s servants (Romans 13:4).

It is not easy for any of us to come under authority. It is especially not easy for young men to come under authority. That is why Peter writes, “You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders.” Humility begins by coming under authority.

The second step is to do the most menial task. Verse 5 continues, “..and all of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another…” The word clothe means “to take the clothing of a slave.” Peter in this verse is referring to a very important event. Before celebrating the last Passover- right before He was betrayed by Judas and crucified- Jesus washed His disciples feet.

John 13:5 says, “Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.” Imagine this! This is shocking. Jesus is God. He is the Creator. He made everything. He holds all things together- He sustains all things. He was about to die for the sins of His people. Jesus did the task of the lowest slave. He washed the feet of His disciples.

The roads were dusty. People wore sandals. Their feet were dirty. Jesus laid aside His outer garment. He took water and washed their feet. We ae to serve one another.

Why did Jesus do this? He provided an example for you and me. Peter in 1 Peter 5 is saying, “The way up is down. Suffering precedes glory. Humility is your best friend!”

The third step is to be content with your circumstances. Verse 6 of 1 Peter 5 says, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time.” “The mighty hand of God” refers to our circumstances. Learn the lessons God has in mind. Embrace the difficulties. Let the hard times teach valuable spiritual lessons. Don’t run from difficulties.

What does America need today? What does Alaska need? Most importantly, what does the church need? We need more humble people. God is opposed to the proud. He fights against the proud but He gives grace to the humble. Come under authority. Do the most menial task. Be content with your life circumstances. The promise is that God will exalt you at the proper time!

Ethan Hansen is a pastor at Faith Bible Fellowship in Big Lake.