Body Language: Clothe Yourself in Humility to One Another

Clothe Yourself in Humility to One Another - 1 Peter 5:5-6

Senior Pastor Alex Kennedy

We spend our lives trying to climb the ladder, but God says, 'Humble yourselves, and I will lift you up.' The way up in God's kingdom is down. We are told to clothe ourselves in humility. The word used here meaning to “clothe or tie on oneself” describes a slave putting an apron over his clothes in order to keep his clothes clean. This means it is proactive not passive. Humility isn't something you accidentally wear. It's something you intentionally put on every morning and walk in throughout the day. Peter echoes the night that Christ dressed Himself with a towel and taught the disciples that humility is the prerequisite for serving (John 13:4–15). 

You must choose humility.

John Wesley observed that “neither the Romans nor the Greeks had a word for humility.” The very concept was so foreign and disgusting to their way of thinking that they had no term to describe it. We must realize no matter how our culture treats pride, it is truly dangerous. “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Imagine having God as your opponent. Nothing is more dangerous than pride.

God delights in humility because he delights in being trusted. The proud seek glory for themselves while the humble give glory to God. At work, humility celebrates someone else's promotion. Pride secretly hopes they fail. On Social Media, pride constantly asks, "Did anyone notice me?" Humility asks, "Did anyone see Christ?" When we gather as the church, pride asks, "What am I getting?" Humility asks, "Who can I serve?"

Humility is voluntary surrender. 

We are told to cast all our anxieties on God, freeing us from constant concern for ourselves and enabling us truly to be concerned for the needs of others. Pride says, "I can carry this." Humility says, "God can carry what I cannot." When we walk in humility, we live open-handed, not with clenched fists. 

Three ways we can put this into practice this week:

1. Remind yourself of the humility of Christ
2. Think deeply about it
3. Put on your clothes and walk in humility before God and others

Questions:

1. What stood out to you from the passage about how God views humility and pride? How is this different from how those things are viewed in our culture?
2. How can we be more mindful of areas of pride forming in our lives?
3. What are some specific ways you can clothe yourself in humility before God and others this week?

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