The Believer’s Character:  A true believer is humble.

James, in the fourth chapter of his book, opens with words about the dangerous wants in the lives of some believers.  They are at war in their own souls and at war with each other.  They are proud and have not asked God for his help.  And then James isn’t timid when he describes some believing men and women as “adulteresses!”  They have wandered from the Lord who bought them and became God’s enemies because of their voracious love for the world.  These believers are dripping with pride.  They believe they can live however they choose, and it’s no big deal.  They think that they don’t need the Lord.  In our verse for today, verse 6, James exposes the real need of their hearts.

“But he giveth more grace.”
There are times when “more grace” is needed.  When a person is in sin, they need “more grace” not less.  This phrase means literally “greater grace.”  Think of it, Jesus gives “greater grace” when the need is bigger.  Note what Paul told the Romans about “greater grace.”

“Moreover, the law entered that the offense might abound.  But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Romans 5:20).

“Greater grace in view of the greater requirement” [1] (Ropes)

Grace, grace, God’s grace,
grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
grace, grace, God’s grace,
grace that is greater than all our sin.[2]

“Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud,”
But notice, the proud man or woman has a problem, he/she is going to be “stiff-armed” by God.  Every would-be football player knows what a stiff-arm is.  When you are going in for the tackle, and the ball carrier sticks his hand in your face and knocks you out of the way.  From experience, some stiff-arms can be quite painful…  Actually, this “stiff-arm” is too gentle a for the Greek term used here.  The word James used means, “to range in battle against,… to oppose one’s self, resist!” [3]  In other words, it’s warfare!  God, Himself is in opposition to the proud person!

Here’s what Vincent said about the same word when Peter used it in 1 Peter 5:5.

“A strong and graphic word.  Lit., setteth himself in array against, as one draws out a host for battle.  Pride calls out God’s armies.  No wonder, therefore, that it “goeth before destruction” [4] (Vincent).

“But giveth grace unto the humble.”
What wonderful words!  His “greater grace” is reserved for the humble.  This is genuine humility without pretense.  This “humility” means “not rising far from the ground,… as a condition, lowly, of low degree,… brought low with grief, depressed,… lowly in spirit, humble” (Thayer).  Have you been here?  There is no pride here.

Here’s what God’s Word says about the humble.

“Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly” (Proverbs 3:34).

“Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted” (James 1:9).

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:29).

It is much better to be humble and with the Lord than to be proud and have Him stand against you.

[1] Ropes, as quoted by A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, the electronic version in eSword.
[2] Author: Julia H. Johnston (1911).  Copyright status, Public Domain.
[3] J.H. Thayer, Thayer’s Greek Definitions, the electronic version in eSword.
[4] M.R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament, the electronic version in eSword.