"Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time: casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you."
1 Peter 5:5-7
Part 1
“Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder.”
“Likewise, ye younger,” in the same way that your elders are being humble, you be humble too. “Submission” applies to everyone in the Body of Christ. Each child of God is accountable in the Body. Our submission and accountability is a part of God’s will for our lives.
“Yea, all of you be subject one to another.”
There are times and places when we must be subject to each other, even to those who are younger than us. Many years ago, one of our island girls had the job of corralling people through the checkout line in the Bible college cafeteria. She handled her task like a drill sergeant. One day she said to a teacher, “Get in that line with those students!” Was she out of line? No, not at all. She was polite, but firm, and doing her job very well. So, what did the teacher do? He got in line with the students, to wait for his turn to pay for his meal. It was the right time and place for the much older teacher to submit to her leadership. Please note that in the text, “all” believers are expected to behave this way.
“And be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.”
When you dressed this morning, did you remember to put on humility? It is vital clothing for a believer. We cannot be rightly submissive without humility. To try to submit without humility is hypocrisy. No one likes a hypocrite. Eventually, the hypocrite’s pride will show through.
What did Jesus do before He washed His disciples’ feet that night? Before He did a slave’s job,
“He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself” (John 13:4).
He put on a towel, the very picture and meaning of “being clothed with humility.” If we try to serve others before we put on the apron of humility, we will be miserable servants.
“Humble yourselves, therefore.”
“Be humbled!” Peter understands very well what it means to be proud before the Lord broke him. And now he makes an outstanding preacher of humility.
Jesus said,
“Whosoever, therefore, shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:4).
Without humility, a man or woman will never bow the knee and ask the Lord to save them. And without humility, a child of God will not cast his/her cares upon the Lord in faith. And where there is no faith, there is only fear left.
“Those who submit patiently to the dispensations of God’s providence he lifts up; those who lift themselves up, God thrusts down” [1] (Clarke).
Come back tomorrow, and we will see that God cares for each one of His children.
[1] Adam Clarke, Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible, the electronic version in eSword.