“Pride and Humility” 1Peter 5: 5-10
There are several themes that God has recently revealed to His little flock here in Catlettsburg. Last week our sermon was about Self-Control. And we realized that the greatest attribute of Self Control is Humility. Over the last couple of years, God has impressed on this church to search for the true essence of Humility. Have you noticed the saying on the back page of our bulletin, it says “Greatness begins with Humility”. Some may say that that is a contradiction in terms. How can you be great if you are not your own best promoter. How can you be great if you don’t stand out in the crowd. Well, the kind of Greatness that we are talking about is quite different. To the world, greatness is about getting what you want and stepping on anyone who gets in your way. The survival of the fittest! It is about scraping and clawing your way to surpass your competitors.
The greatness that God calls us to is not popular to the world but is held in highest esteem in Heaven. It involves greatness in the eyes of God, not man. So how do you get this greatness in God’s eyes? How do you become what God calls you to be?
An overly pious Elder, who was full of himself, was teaching a Sunday School class made up of 7 and 8 year olds. He was trying to impress upon them the importance of living a Christian life, using himself as an example. With an aire of arrogance he asked, "Why do people call “ME” a Christian?"
After an awkward silence one of the little boys said, "Maybe it's because they don't know you."
Brothers and Sisters, this morning let us turn our eyes and minds and hearts to heaven and listen to God’s divine directive. What is that directive? BE Humble! BEFORE WE CAN FULLY UNDERSTAND GOD, WE MUST BE HUMBLE. Humility is the prerequisite for Heaven. Andrew Murry said, “Pride must die in you, or nothing of heaven can live in you.” Can you see how important this is? We must get rid of pride before we can ever consider going to heaven.
You see, no prideful man may enter heaven! Scripture tells us in Proverbs 16:5 “Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; Be assured, he will not go unpunished.”
Humility is the key to approaching God. Humility is the key to Self-control Humility is vital to our understanding God and our mission on earth.
The world judges by achievements and moments of success and victory. While God prefers those who are clothed with humility. Think for a moment of the achievements of Peter who calls us to humility. Peter was the leader of the Apostles. He performed many great miracles. He gave his life for the Gospel of Jesus. Except for Jesus,….. he is the only one who ever walked on water. He preached one of the most important sermons ever preached on Pentecost, talk about great! But he did not consider himself great.
Today, just as in his days on earth, Peter calls us to humility. Why? because without it we can’t be righteous before God, and we can never be a disciple of Christ. If you can’t be mild mannered and rid yourself of pride, then you are wasting your time trying to be a Christian. That is how important this is.
Peter warns us because pride is the opposite of humility, and it is so easy for us to be deceived by it and become self-righteous. Kind of like the Mac Davis song “O Lord It’s Hard to Be Humble when you are perfect in every way”, I have met many hypocritical Christians who could sing this song.
Pride is the thing that renders Christians ineffective. They attend church and are there on time, give regularly, have respect of others, are honest and help others in need. But sometimes they become self-righteous, and they begin to see themselves as better than others. They get puffed up and proud. But Peter’s letter calls us down off our high-horses and put us on our knees before God. Let us look at it for a moment this morning.
1 Peter 5:5-7 “Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
1. Let us look at this more closely, In verse Vs. 5a, he writes: “Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older.”
Respecting your elders is more than a cultural custom, it is a biblical responsibility. We need both the wisdom of the older and enthusiasm of the younger. The young men are told to listen to the council of the older. Young men may think they know it all and that is pride, not the humility God seeks. Submission in humility is part of the responsibility for the young.
2. Humility verses Pride vs. 5b “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
This is directed to all Christians not just the young. Clothe yourself in all humility. This word for clothe means to “tie around”. The picture is a servant tying on an apron before serving. It actually brings to mind Jesus humbling himself by taking off his clothes and wrapping a towel around himself to wash the disciple’s feet. That was an act of humility.
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” This is a quote from Proverbs 3:34. How foolish pride is when God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble.”
Nebuchadnezzar the King of Babylon is a good example of how God opposes the proud. After he destroyed the temple in Jerusalem he put the articles in his temple. He had an image of gold 90 ft high and required everyone to worship it. 29 Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” Daniel 4:29
He was very proud of himself and at the same time, very maligned by God. The Lord said “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. 32 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.”
God brought down instantly one of the mightiest rulers of all time because of pride. Later God restored Nebuchadnezzar, but you know what he said about God after that.
Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right, and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride…… he is able to humble. (Daniel 4:37)
Even today we see prestigious and influential church leaders fall. Pride says…you preach God’s word, but you are above obeying it yourself. Nonsense, God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble.
You just have to hope these leaders who have fallen have as much discernment as Nebuchadnezzar and realize God opposes the proud. Humility is the only hope of a life that honors God.
3. Humility Before God vs. 6
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. A reminder of God’s greatness will instill the humility we must put on.
We need to take a long look at ourselves and remind ourselves that “God is our creator, and we are the creation”. Humble yourself under God’s mighty hand and he may lift you up in due time.
I can’t say when, but if you work for the Lord in humility without thought of recognition compensation or anything that might produce pride. God will lift you up in His due time.
4. Anxiety the Barrier to Humility vs. 7
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Anxiety is a barrier to humility. There is a connection between humility and anxiety. This is because often anxiety is about ourseves. Who will care for me? Will my needs be met?
The Bible says cast your anxiety on God. Like a saddle on a horse. God has a strong back. God wants us to unload our anxieties, “throw” them on him. .
The ultimate anxiety is death. What will happen to me when I die? Cast this on God by trusting in Jesus Christ. Let your burdens be lifted.
2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
So there you have it…….Pride vs Humility. God lets us freely choose. He has given us the ability of self-control. Which will you choose? Today each of us has been given a fair warning. Pride leads to eternal damnation, while humility leads to eternal life.
