1 Peter 5:5, 6 - Seeking Humility and Ignoring Pride.
1 Peter 5:5, 6 (NIV) In the same way, you
who are younger, submit yourselves to your
elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility
toward one another, because, God opposes the
proud but shows favor to the humble. 6 Humble
yourselves, therefore, under Gods mighty hand, that
he may lift you up in due time.
COMMENTARY PEARL
Rick called me into the dining room one
morning. Right out front were three tom turkeys
puffed up, tail feathers spread in all their
magnificence - and one plain little tina turkey pecking
at tidbits in our garden. Faces purple and red,
the boys strutted this way and that. One even
did a side walking routine that had Rick and me
laughing inside the house. Soon another two toms
showed up. I guess this was a gorgeous hen.
She paid no attention. Aloof, she focused
on the food in front of her slender face. Peck.
Peck. Peck-peck-peck. One young tom approached in
all his glory, and when she looked at him, you
could see him puff up with pride. Three others
thought enough was enough and approached him. He
deflated like a balloon and shot down the street.
Another gave up and wandered off. Miss Hen ignored
the three remaining suitors.
We left them to their courtship ritual
and got ready for church. As we drove down the
road, there they were, the three puffed-up toms,
still trying to woo the hen's favors. She was
perched on the wood fence looking down her beak at
them.
The strutting tom turkeys made us laugh,
but pride is never funny or attractive. 'Look at
me; look at me" is often the cry of a child who
wants all the attention fixed on me, me, me! Pride
keeps us focused on ourselves and prevents us from
turning to God. Relationships suffer and die when we
cling to pride, because we're so worried about
ourselves that we can't spare any energy to care
genuinely for others.
The antidote to pride is humility. God
calls us to dress ourselves" with humility and
promises He will give grace to the humble - to those
who understand that He is Lord and they are
not.
People can certainly make turkeys out of
themselves. King Solomon stated it bluntly in the book
of Proverbs: Pride leads to disgrace, but
with humility comes wisdom" (11:2). Tom Turkey
might have been more successful if he'd been
feathered with humility.
Reflect
Think back on a time when you reacted to a
situation out of pride rather than humility. What was
the result? How can pride blind us to the needs
of others around us and keep us at arm's length
from God?
Apply
This week, reflect on what triggers you to
react with pride. Meditate on Proverbs 11:2 or 1
Peter 5:5 and ask God to help you let go of pride
and develop humility.
Connect With God
Dear Lord, so often I react with pride
because I feel threatened. I'm worried about being
respected or about getting what I think I deserve.
It's exhausting to care so much about what others
think of me, and I know sometimes I'm just making
a fool of myself. Please help me to respond
out of humility instead of pride. Teach me to
remember that You are God and I am Your child - no
more, no less. I don't have to grasp for what I
want because I have everything I need in You.
[Earth Psalms by Francine Rivers]
ILLUSTRATION
Jesus set aside the privileges of
deity and took on the status of a slave, became
human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was
an incredibly humbling process. He didnt
claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a
selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless,
obedient death"and the worst kind of death at that:
a crucifixion (Phil. 2:7"8 MSG).
Lets follow his example. Lets
put on the apron of humility, to serve one
another (1 Pet. 5:5 TEV). Jesus entered the world to
serve. We can enter our jobs, our homes, our
churches. Servanthood requires no unique skill or
seminary degree. Regardless of your strengths,
training, or church tenure, you can
Love the overlooked. Jesus sits in your
classroom, wearing the thick glasses, outdated
clothing, and a sad face. Youve seen him. Hes
Jesus.
Jesus works in your office. Pregnant
again, she shows up to work late and tired. No one
knows the father. According to water-cooler
rumors, even she doesnt know the father. Youve
seen her. Shes Jesus.
When you talk to the lonely student,
befriend the weary mom, you love Jesus. He dresses in
the garb of the overlooked and ignored.
Whenever you did one of these things to someone
overlooked or ignored, that was me - you did it to
me (Matt. 25:40 MSG).
You can do that. Even if your sweet spot
has nothing to do with encouraging others, the
cure for the common life involves loving the
overlooked. You can also
Wave a white flag. We fight so much.
Where do you think all these appalling wars and
quarrels come from? asks the brother of Jesus.
Do you think they just happen? Think again.
They come about because you want your own way,
and fight for it deep inside yourselves
(James 4:1 MSG). Serve someone by swallowing your
pride. One more aspect of servanthood..
Every day do something you dont want
to do. Pick up someone elses trash.
Surrender your parking place. Call the long-winded
relative. Carry the cooler. Doesnt have to be a big
thing. Helen Keller once told the Tennessee
legislature that when she was young, she had longed to
do great things and could not, so she decided
to do small things in a great way. Dont be
too big to do something small. Throw
yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that
nothing you do for him is a waste of time or
effort (1 Cor. 15:58 MSG).
A good action not only brings good
fortune, it brings Gods attention. He notices the
actions of servants. He sent his Son to be one.
When you and I crest Mount Zion and hear the
applause of saints, well realize this: hands
pushed us up the mountain too. The pierced hands of
Jesus Christ, the greatest servant who ever lived.
[Max Lucado Daily Devotional at maxlucado.com]
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE
1 Peter 5:5, 6: Humility vs. Pride:
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2017/20170714-1622.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David
DeRose, MD, MPH:
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
The Last Day of Prophecy by Pastor Doug
Batchelor:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmGvdtMCf1aJTiC59-lPtuUMEq_uEn0BK
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
