Being Humble Before Man and God

1 Peter 5:5-14 Part One
V. 5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resist the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” (Ps. 33:12)
Having given instruction to the spiritual leaders of the church Peter now turns his attention to the flock instructing them on how to behave towards their ministers and to one another. He calls them younger as generally being younger than their pastors, though this is not always the case. Peter wants them to remember that those appointed because of the recognition of their God given gifts are to be respected. He wants to put them in mind of their inferiority, as the term younger is used by our Lord to signify an inferior in Luke 22:26. “But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.” We are to submit ourselves to the elder, to give due respect and reverence to their persons, and to yield to their admonitions, reproof, and authority, in accordance with the word of God as found in Hebrews 13:17. Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account.” Before we begin with our list of buts, remember that these leaders will be held accountable to God for the flock. So as we think of our list of doubts and exceptions, know that God will hold all leaders accountable for those they lead. This implies that we are to take our concerns to God and rely upon His mercy and justice.
We are also to be subject to one another, so far as to receive the reproofs and councils one of another, and bear one another’s burdens. We are also to perform all the offices of friendship and charity to each other. As I grew in the Lord my pride would raise up its defenses when confronted by another, saying to myself; who are they to reproof me, look at their lives? During certain times of honest reproof the Spirit of God is there to confirm what I am hearing, so that I must humbly accept this person honest reproof. Even now when I am know that I am right it is a struggle to not strike back when challenged.
The act of submission to superiors in age or office, as well being subject to one another, are contrary to our proud and selfish nature this is why Peter advises his readers and us to be clothed in humility, as a beautiful garment. Taking this attitude towards humility makes obedience and our duty to God and others easy and pleasant. When we are disobedient and proud, God sets Himself to oppose and drive that pride from us, God resists the proud. Our pride stands in the way of what God wants to do in our lives, and by His grace we are molded into a useable tool for the service of the Lord. Humility is a great preserver of peace and order in the church and society, therefore pride is the greatest disturber of them, and the cause of many dissentions and breaches in the church. There is a mutual opposition between God and the proud as they war against God and as He scorns them. They have become like Satan, enemies to himself and to His kingdom among men.
Where God gives grace to the humble, He will give more grace, more wisdom, faith, holiness, and humility, thus Peter adds verse six. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time. Since God resist the proud and pours out His grace on the humble we are to humble ourselves, not only to one another, but to God as well, for His judgments are coming upon the world, and must begin in the house of God, as Peter alluded to in the previous chapter. His hand is mighty, and can pull down the proud, and exalt the humble, and this He shall do as He promises either in this life, or at the Day of Judgment, according to His will. God is not slack in His promises, and what He says He will do, will be done, a brother and I where talking, how little we use the phrase; “as the Lord wills”. If we are to seek the Lord’s will for our life, and walk in the promises of God, shouldn’t this be our language as well? Perhaps……. as the Lord wills. The consideration of the omnipotent hand of God should make us humble and submissive to Him in all that He brings or allows in our lives.
James says in 4:7-10 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinner; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. Humbling ourselves to God under his hand is the next step to deliverance, exaltation, patience under His chastisements, and submission to His pleasure, repentance, prayer, and hope in His mercy, that will engage His help and release in His timing.
V. 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
Peter, knowing his readers were under persecution for their beliefs, knows that further and greater hardships might cause them to doubt what they have come to know. The issues surrounding these persecutions and the burden on themselves, their families, and their church, might cause them to become anxious and a source of temptation. He offers them this advice to cast all their cares and all care for themselves upon God.
The best of Christians are apt to labor under the burden of anxious and excessive care, Peter calls it, all your care, stating that the cares of Christians are various, and of varying degrees. The cares of even good people, are very burdensome, and too often very sinful; when they arise from disbelief, when they torture and distract the mind, leaving us unfit for the duties in life and steal our joy of service for the Lord.
Throwing all our cares which wound our soul, and pierce our hearts upon the wise and gracious providence of God, allows God to work in each of these situations for our good. Trust in Him, for He cares for you. He is willing to release you of your care, and take that care upon Himself. He will either avert what you fear, or support you under it. He will order all events to you so as to convince you of His paternal love and tenderness towards you.