1To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. 5Young 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.”[a]
6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
[James 5:1-7]
Earlier this week I came across this passage when I was searching through the Bible on prayer. Almost immediately, the section where Peter talks about being humble before God jumped right out at me. I suppose it is possible for some to get certain images in their mind when they read, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand…”: maybe this authoritarian Giant hovering over a rather tiny man on bended knee, looking nowhere but down.
But that’s not the picture I get.
I see prayer.
When I think of the word humble, or humility, I don’t think of someone who is weak or fragile, but of someone who rightly knows their limitations. Humility is realizing that we need God. It’s realizing that I need God – I need Him in my situations and circumstances.
This humility also involves God’s mighty hand. This hand isn’t oppressive, but liberating. It’s how God chooses to give us the victories we need. It’s how God chooses to lift us up out of the pits we’ve fallen into.
It’s important to realize that we need God, but it can be equally important to realize that God cares for us. Know that God wants us to be humble so what we can give him our junk. He wants us to talk to Him about our problems, because he loves us.
So go to God.
Don’t wait.
In what areas of your life do you need peace?
What do you need to overcome?
In what do you need guidance?
Be humble, ask God, and He will give you grace.
I need thee every hour,
most gracious Lord,
No tender voice like thine
Can peace afford.
Chorus
I need thee, O I need thee,
Every hour I need thee;
O bless me now, my Savior,
I come to thee.
I need thee every hour,
Stay though near by;
Temptations lose their power
When thou are nigh.
I need thee every hour,
In joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide,
Or life is vain.
I need thee every hour,
Teach me thy will,
And thy rich promises
In me fulfill.
Verses by Annie Sherwood Hawks (1835-1918)
Chorus by Robert Lawry (1826-1899)