Church of the Vine

Be Humble Toward One Another

All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. 

(1 Peter 5:5b) NIV)

Before looking at the issue of clothing ourselves with humility, notice the reason:  God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.

It is a sobering thought that God ‘orders Himself against’ (anti-tasso) anyone!  But according to Peter He does.  He sets Himself against the proud.  The proud are the huper-efanos, those who place themselves above in a way that seeks to shine, or have more light (efanos).  John Wimber had a famous piece of advice for all of us.  He often said that Christians need to get ‘the shine rubbed off’.  What is the ‘shine’?  It is the huper-efanos, the setting oneself above, as with a brighter, more noticeable light.  Peter warns that God resists such self-serving efforts in our relationships with each other.

Rather, we are to clothe ourselves; literally to fasten, indeed gird ourselves with humility.  Humility toward one another is to be our strength toward one another.  How ironic the gospel is!  Our strength and manner toward one another is not to shine above each other, but rather it is to take the lower place in our thinking and affections.  The word humble here is used only 7 times in the New Testament, and some translations render in ‘lowliness of mind’ (see 1 Peter 2:3).  But the word reaches a little deeper than lowliness of ‘mind’.  The compound Greek word means more something like diaphragm, or midriff.  In our relationships with each other, there seems to be a call of a deep esteeming of others more highly than ourselves.  Down in our gut, our role is not to show-off, but rather to lower that inside us that would like to light up and be seen. 

I can picture this as not wanting the light of my need for approval and recognition and prominence to wash out or put in a shadow God’s love and value for you, and my role in seeing all of God’s purpose and glory revealed in your life.  This is not groveling, false modesty, or an attempt to be ‘the most humble’.  This is a life position of being clothed with a sense of putting my heart under my brothers and sisters.  It is terrifically difficult and requires the miracle of God.  But, then again, what in the Kingdom does not?

What specific behaviors could I aim for in my relationships with others that would display a heart clothed with humility?

If there is a tendency in me to ‘show off’, how does it show itself?  What would be good alternatives?

Why do suppose Peter bother to say this at all to a community of believers?

May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with us!

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