1 Peter 5:5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
The book of 1 Peter was written to persecuted Christians around 64-65 AD. The letter focused strongly on maintaining community and fostering unity within the church, resisting the devil through faith, and submitting to God’s leadership under suffering.
Elders in the church were instructed by Peter to lead by example, humbly serving the members they were shepherding (1 Peter 5:1-4). We then come to verse 5 where we see “in the same way…” which tells us that though it is being addressed to younger members, they were to follow the example of their elders and act the same.
Young and old alike were told to clothe themselves with humility towards one another. It wasn’t addressed to one age group or another but to the entire church. It was something every one of them was to do – to be humble towards one another. The reason? Peter quotes Proverbs 3:34 to explain why they are to be humble – because God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.
Can you imagine what our churches would look like if everyone acted humbly toward one another, serving each other happily and willingly? It would transform our churches. We wouldn’t recognize them. And that is a sad realization. We know we are to act in this manner, yet we choose to be self-indulgent and self-centered. True, there are some who are being obedient but it is definitely not everyone.
Who can you be humble towards and show your servant heart to? Let’s make the effort to start with just one or two people and then expand from there to serving others. Let’s encourage others to join us in serving and begin making changes that ripple throughout the congregation and outward.
Prayer: Lord, Show me who I can serve today. Open my eyes to those who I need to be humble with and help me to obediently serve. Let others join in with humility, too. Amen
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