Be Humble

1 Peter 5:1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: 2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; 4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. 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 resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

One of mankind’s biggest problems has always been its desire to be god. We always want to call the shots. Be the boss. Completely control our lives.

Observational truth teaches us none of that is possible. We cannot control our own lives, we are never the boss, and we do not call the shots. In essence, our lives are completely OUT of our direct control.

I naturally want to be the boss of me, but I can’t be. I naturally do not desire to be humble, but I can be.

Can I get a clue here? “Yes!” Peter says. “Be what you can be. Be ALL you can be.”

Be humble. (Because you ain’t all that, even if you think you is.)

Be a humble leader if you are blessed with that responsibility. Be a humble follower when your life directs. In fact, be a humble follower even when you are a leader, because humble followers make the only leaders worth following.

I am not God, and I never will be. Why would I even attempt to assume that role, or even think of approaching God as some sort of co-equal. Who am I to even think of questioning God, or judging what He chooses to do? Have I checked the span of the universe lately?

This sort of thinking is the realm where Satan works most powerfully. He plays to the same temptations he always has. “You can be your own bosssssss,” he hisses. “You can control you own livesssssss,” he lies. “Follow your heart,” he says. “Trust your natural instincts,” he advises. And – most importantly – “Evaluate God’s Word to see if it works for you.”

How arrogant.

-Pastor Bill