The Grace of the Humble

In my life lately, I have been struggling to discipline my sinful nature and live by the Spirit, especially in my free time. For some reason, in the moment, it feels like my free time doesn't matter. Not to me, and not to God. But God has been convicting me about it, and ever since he did I've been struggling to change my attitude, as well as my actions. It's been hard. For some unknown reason, I have had trouble surrendering my free time every day, and using it to do what God wants me to do instead of simply entertaining myself until the next commitment comes.

Then I ran into something while I was reading James 4 the other day. There was a note from my past self written in the margin of my Bible pointing me to 1 Peter 5.

"But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”  Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."
James 4:6‭-‬10 NIV

"All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.  And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."
1 Peter 5:5‭-‬10 NIV

The language and themes in these two passages are so similar that I had to do a double-take to make sure they weren't written by the same author. But no, they aren't. At least, they aren't written by the same human author. That makes me really pay attention to what is being said, because apparently it's important enough that God decided to say it twice.

I'd like to examine each point in detail:
1. Humble yourself before God
2. Submit to God, and he will lift you up
3. If we humble ourselves, we will receive God's grace (Proverbs 3:34)
4. Resist the devil

1. Humble Yourself Before God
"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand"
1 Peter 5:6 NIV

"Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord"
James 4:8‭-‬10 NIV

I know I'm starting with the unpleasant subject first: the command to renounce our self-love and surrender our hearts, our minds, our lives, our strength, and our very souls to God's authority. That does not always feel very fun.
Look at the language James used: grieve, mourn, wail, gloom. This process involves comparing our pitiful, puny, sinful nature to God's all-powerful, all-worthy, perfect nature. When we do this, we realize how unapproachable God's holiness is, and our souls long for him. This process of humbling ourselves may not be fun, but it is necessary!

This is how we humble ourselves: by doing as James said. Grieve, wail, and mourn. But what are we mourning? What causes our grief? What prompts us to wail?
We grieve because we've caused God's heart to grieve. We mourn because we've caused God's heart to mourn. Humbling ourselves involves acknowledging and repenting for what we've done in rebellion against him.

So what are some things that cause God's heart to grieve (that we need to repent of)?
a) Foolishness
"A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to the mother who bore him."
Proverbs 17:25 NIV

God is our Father. He created us, and he loves us, and so that is how he identifies himself to us. 

Keep in mind that in Proverbs, the fool is the one who is morally deficient. He has forsaken wisdom and instead follows whatever way he desires. He is completely taken by earthly pleasures, with no care to contemplate the consequences of tomorrow. 

How our sinful nature longs to play the fool! Even if it's only for a little while. We think it will be restful to forget consequences for a time, in order to do as we wish. We willingly choose to forget that the only place to find true rest is in God. This is the kind of foolishness that grieves the Father's heart. It is something we acknowledge and mourn as we humble ourselves before him.

b) Rebellion
"He said, “Surely they are my people, children who will be true to me”; and so he became their Savior. In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.  

Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them."
Isaiah 63:8‭-‬10 NIV
Do you think God wanted to be Israel's enemy in this story? Don't you think he would have preferred to cherish and nurture forever this nation that he had set apart as his very own?

In the same way, our rebellion grieves his Spirit. Because of our adoption, we are now the chosen people. We have been saved from our sins, grafted into Israel, and given the Holy Spirit! An unprecedented act of mercy! Yet in our rebellion, we reject his Holy Spirit in order to indulge our worldly flesh. If it weren't for the saving power of Jesus' blood, we would never escape the wrath that should follow! We should be ashamed of ourselves, for we know better! After everything he has done for us to save us, guide us, and teach us, what Father wouldn't be grieved when his children turn away? 

This also is something we should acknowledge and mourn as we humble ourselves before him. And as we repent and humble ourselves, let us also remember to thank him for turning his wrath aside from us!

Wow, that was a lot of negativity! Yet, just as James said, humbling ourselves can involve "Changing our laughter to mourning and our joy to gloom". So what's the point of all of this?

This is why we humble ourselves: 

a) To put our lives in the proper perspective. When we compare ourselves to other people, it can be easy to focus on what we are doing "better" than they are. I'm reminded of the parable of the tax collector and the Pharisee in Luke 18:9-14. The Pharisee was sure of getting God's favor because he was more "righteous" than the other petitioner who had approached. Yet the tax collector went home justified, because he had compared himself to God's righteousness and found himself wanting. When we are humble before God, we will be humble before our fellow man as well.

b) To approach the throne to make our requests in the correct attitude. The context of James 4 is all about why the recipients of the letter were not getting what they wanted because they were either not asking for it or they weren't asking correctly. So the passage we're looking at is the explanation of how to properly present our requests to God. It can be easy to slip into pride, and take advantage of God's grace by scornfully demanding the things we want. How can we hope to be granted requests that way? Instead, humility grants us the extension of the scepter, so that we may approach the unapproachable, holy King and make our requests. Just like Esther humbled herself by fasting for three days (Esther 4:16), and then clothed herself to please the king (Esther 5:1-2), we clothe ourselves with humility (1 Peter 5:5) to please our King before we present our requests. How can we ask that he utilize his authority and power in our lives if we don't first place our lives under his authority and power?

Fortunately, there is not just a command and a necessity involved with humbling ourselves, but there are also promises! A couple of those can be found in the main passages we're looking at in James 4 and 1 Peter 5.

2. Submit to God, and He Will Lift You Up

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."

James 4:10

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

1 Peter 5:6-7

This is the first promise we find that's associated with humbling ourselves. I have discovered two possible ways to think of this promise for God to "lift us up."
1) Luke 18:14b "For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." Just like Jesus was "exalted to the highest place" for his obedience to God (Philippians 2:8-9), we will be exalted as well, if we humble ourselves and place our lives under God's authority to do with as he pleases. This hope is not without a foundation, but is firmly based on multiple promises throughout the Bible, including James 4, 1 Peter 5, and Luke 18, as we just saw.

2) When I read these sections of our main passages, I picture a petitioner kneeling before God's throne. I then picture God taking that petitioner by the elbows and lifting him up to a standing position. In my mind, this signifies that the petitioner has been granted favor, and God will hear their request in a way that reflects the petitioner's status. This reminds me of the instructions Jesus gave in Luke 14:7-11 about where to sit at a feast:
"When you are invited to a feast, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests." (verse 10)
When we approach God's throne of grace, we can do so with confidence. However, if we also humble ourselves before him, he will lift us up, reminding us of our favored status in his sight.
Fun fact: do you know what Luke 14:11 says? "For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." Which is the same promise we just saw in Luke 18. I just thought that was kind of cool. Moving on.


3. If We Humble Ourselves, We Will Receive God's Grace
"But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
James 4:6

"All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
1 Peter 5:5

Both of these passages quote the same Proverb:
"He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed"
Proverbs 3:34

This is the second promise we find in these passages that's associated with humbling ourselves to God. Submitting ourselves to God in the manner that we discussed in section 1 involves a lot of repentance. And as we all know,
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and juts and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

God's grace is granted to those who acknowledge their need for it. That is the benefit of humbling ourselves before him! We can approach God in humility, and come away knowing that we have been forgiven of everything. After all, Jesus said
"If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and come back to you saying 'I repent,' you must forgive them." (Luke 17:3-4)
If that is the kind of forgiveness that God expects us to offer--the kind that forgives the seventh offense with the same willingness and attitude as it did the first--how much more will God offer us the same kind of forgiveness! Therefore, we can be confident as we humble ourselves before him that he will give us the grace we need. And it is not only the grace of forgiveness that we obtain in this way. We receive another kind of grace as well...


4. Resist the Devil
"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
James 4:7

"Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast."
1 Peter 5:8-10

Since both of these passages mentioned resisting the devil directly after instructing us to humble ourselves before God, I have to think the two are related.

I love how James states it: "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." Direct as always, James! However, if I had not also read 1 Peter 5, I may have had a few questions left over. Like, um, how? Seriously, it does not seem so easy. It is simple, yes, but not easy.

Thankfully, Peter goes into a few more details. Here's what I catch:
1) "Stand firm in the faith." The only way to resist something is by standing on firm ground. Our faith is grounded on something immovable: The Truth. God's Word is truth (John 17:17), and Jesus is The Truth (John 14:6). Our faith can help us combat the lies of the enemy (Ephesians 6:16). Is he trying to tell you that God isn't faithful? Stand on your faith, reminding yourself what God has done in the past to be faithful to you, and to the people in the Bible.

2) We are not alone in the struggle. "You know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings." One of the most common and most discouraging lies that get launched our way is that we are alone. We may look at everyone around us and think that they have their lives all put together. "Nobody else will understand," "nobody will care," and "if you admit to this struggle, it will change how people see you" are some of the thoughts we may have during a difficult time. However, God created a community in the Church, with the purpose of having us help one another and spur each other on in the faith. And if that is God's will for us, then of course God's Enemy--like a prowling lion--wishes to disrupt it by forcing the most vulnerable people to the edge of the herd to be picked off one by one. That is why it is so important to go to a trusted friend or mentor with what you're going through. "You know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings." You may be surprised at how well they relate to you. They may even be going through something similar, and you can help each other get through. Sin is not an original invention. There's no reason to struggle with it alone, especially when that's not how God intended for it to be handled. Even Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, requested that Peter, James, and John pray for him in the garden (Matthew 26:37-38). So don't be afraid to turn to someone you trust with what you struggle with.

3) The struggle will not last forever. "After you have struggled for a while..." If we have given our lives to God, our sin has been defeated and our salvation is sure (2 Corinthians 7:10). We will inherit eternal life (John 10:28). The devil's punishment is certain (Revelation 20:14). And if we stand firm in the faith, we will receive our reward from God that he has promised. Hope is a strong motivator in the midst of a struggle. If a drowning mouse is rescued once, the next time it is drowning it will hold out all the longer, looking forward to when it is rescued again. We have a certainty of being rescued in the end, and therefore we can cling to hope while we struggle against the schemes of the devil and with our sinful nature. Even if our lives feel like one long string of struggles, that does not mean God has abandoned us. Our hope does not have any basis on this life or on our circumstances. It is based in what the Bible says that God has promised for the next life.

4) God will use the struggle and give you grace "The God of all grace... himself will restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast." If we stand firm, God will make us firm. The traits we acquire in order to get through tough times is often the reward we receive at the end. It is the fruit of our struggle. If we need more faith, our faith will be tested. If our faith is being tested, God will use the test to make our faith stronger. At the end of the test, we get to keep the stronger faith and use it again. It's like in a video game. Sometimes you get sent on quests to fetch something, like a honeycomb or a collection of sticks and worms. When you've retrieved it, some quest-givers reward you by giving you the completed product, like a jar of honey or a fishing pole. In those kind of games, often the only way to get those items is by completing the quest. It's the same way with us. When we are going through something tough, it's like we're collecting character traits. When we give them to God, he then puts them together and rewards us with the completed product. 

"Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." Romans 5:3-4

God also blessed us with grace in the trial: "The God of all grace... himself will restore you..." We cannot struggle with sin--resist the devil--by ourselves and hope to win. We cannot resist the sinful nature unless we live by the Spirit. We need grace from God. Fortunately, he's the God of all grace, and is willing to give us what we need when we submit to him. 

So how do we resist the devil? Stand firm in the faith, be encouraged by others, cling to hope, and ask God for grace.

And how do we win our struggle with sin? Humble ourselves before God, and resist the devil. We cannot win our fight with sin if we don't reject it and acknowledge its harm to us and to our relationship with God. We will not get what we ask for unless we ask with right motives. But if we do ask in humility, God will lift is up and give us the grace of forgiveness as well as the grace to resist the devil. And finally, if we resist the devil, he will flee from us!

Footnote: Keep in mind that this is a process. When Satan was tempting Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11), and Jesus resisted, Satan didn't leave right away. Jesus had to be patient and persistent. So do we. The promise is there: the devil will flee. But don't be surprised if he sticks around just long enough for us to learn something in the process. That is how God often works things for our good (Romans 8:28): by using the trial to teach us something new and help us grow in our walk with him.