Apron of Humility

Apron of Humility

1 Peter 5: ⁵ In the same way you younger people must submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you must put on the apron of humility, to serve one another; for the scripture says, “God resists the proud, but shows favor to the humble.” ⁶ Humble yourselves, then, under God's mighty hand, so that he will lift you up in his own good time. ⁷ Leave all your worries with him, because he cares for you.

 

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“You are pretty good at this” were the words I loved to hear. I became more confident and took on more and more challenges. Soon I was “very good” in my own mind and wanted to make some demands or even leave for something better. After applying outside and not getting the position I had to tone down my demands.

 

• I had become demanding.
• I had become a bit arrogant.
• I had forgotten that I knew nothing when I first started out.

 

Peter turns to new believers to provide advice to them. They may have desired a higher position within serving, so he suggests taking a humble approach. He implied having patience by saying “HE will lift you up in HIS own good time.”

 

My Observations:

• GOD resists my pride, but shows me favor when I humble myself.
• GOD changes my heart when I practice serving others.
• GOD raises me up in HIS time, not mine.

 

Demanding that GOD “make me a leader right here and now” could come from a wrong heart. I mean, I may want to be a leader so “I” can take on the challenges I see fit. When I run into issues, I can simply call on GOD to beat up my enemies and fix all my problems. Unfortunately, HE doesn’t seem to work that way.

 

HE sees my heart and if it is full of pride, resists my efforts. But when I humble myself and ask HIM, “Is this wat YOU want?”, HE gets excited. HE then tells me to “leave all my worries with HIM” because HE cares for me. I am glad GOD takes care of me and raises me up in HIS time.

 

Challenge

• Why does the writer emphasize serving one another?
• Have you ever thought you would do a better job than your leaders?
• Will you examine yourself to see if there are any opportunities to wear the “apron of humility” by following those put in leadership, whether you agree with HIS leadership appointment or not?

Life’s Elevator

Matthew 23: ⁵ “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; ⁶ they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; ⁷ they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.

⁸ “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. ⁹ And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. ¹⁰ Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. ¹¹ The greatest among you will be your servant. ¹² For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

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“Making it” was top of mind. I tried not to step on people, but if a person got in my way, they were in trouble. I did get the title and it felt great to have the “respect.”

• Seeking places of honor can sometimes make me blind.
• Seeking to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces can sometimes puff up my head.
• Seeking a title or a position of status can sometimes lead me to think I am better than I am.

JESUS makes it clear that HE is the only instructor and the FATHER is the only father. Anyone who seeks to have the spotlight on themselves in the church will be knocked down.

• GOD wants me to humble myself so HE will not have to.
• GOD wants me to humble myself so HE can use me HIS way.
• GOD wants me to humble myself so HE can exalt me.

When I am in a humble position I celebrate more. I mean when GOD raises me up, even a little, I am thankful and I cheer. On the other hand, when I seek a title that I feel I “deserve” and do not get it, I pout and life is quite miserable. GOD wants me to be a servant no matter what title or position HE gives me. Serving others as HE served me is the highest honor!

• Are you trying to get a title?
• Do you feel you “deserve” better in life?
• Can you seek to serve rather trying to exalt yourself?

Exhausted Trying to Please

Micah 6: ⁸ He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly with your God.

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Figuring out what the boss wanted was a puzzle and I was losing sleep. I would wake up in the middle of the night thinking about work so I would jump out of bed, labor for a couple of hours then fall asleep for the remaining fifteen or twenty minutes before the alarm. I would then try to present my work only to be brushed off to do more laborious tasks. “What does he want?” I would exclaim!

• Sometimes I get exhausted trying to please others.
• Sometimes I get weary trying to guess at what others want from me.
• Sometimes I get fatigued trying so hard to get things right that I lose sleep and feel even more tired!

“What do YOU want from me?” is an expression I have also used on GOD. I mean when I wasn’t getting my way I would try to do what GOD wanted me to do in a measured way. I would pray more, give more and show up to church more. I would even reduce my sins for good measure.

Then when I did not get my way, I would tell the LORD the list of things I had done so HE could eventually relent on holding back from my long past due rewards. I would then ask again “What do YOU want from me?”

• GOD says to me “I want you to act justly to MY people.”
• GOD says to me “I want you to love the mercy I have shown you.”
• GOD says to me “I want you to walk humbly with ME, your GOD.”

CHRIST walked the earth showing me how life really should be done. HE set the example by showing even HIS enemy’s compassion. HE expressed HIS unfailing love in an extreme gentle way. The problem is sometimes the things I want may not be part of HIS plans. In fact they may conflict with HIM.

Any time I am anxious, nervous and afraid I must ask myself “Am I fighting GOD or serving HIM? GOD is not hard to please. HE was so pleased that HE became a human to die in my place. HE simply wants me to look at HIS example and follow them daily. That’s all.

• Are you exhausted trying to please others?
• Are you exhausted trying to please GOD?
• Can you stop “trying” so hard and just “be” the person GOD wants you to be?
• Will you stop downing yourself and others around you so you can add praise back into your life?