Topical

Designed for Jr High School Students. Presented in about 1/2 an hour. Prop needed: bathrobe. Main idea: Humility is necessary to grow in Christ. Bible quotes are from the ESV.

Clothe Yourself in Humility

Disclaimer

I chose to speak to you on humility because, frankly, I think it's a real problem for a lot of you in this youth group. However, in studying for this lesson I was very convicted on the amount of pride I have in my own life. So, I was tempted to change the topic. But, I had already told Jay and Tim what I was going to teach on and my pride wouldn’t let me back down. So, I don’t want you to be distracted by me if you know that something we touch on is a struggle for me. Let us each be looking at our own lives and how we can improve. Deal?

Please turn to 1 Peter 5:5.

For my purposes today, I wish that verse 5 had been split into two verses, so we’ll say “5a” for the first sentence and “5b” for the second, ok?

1 Peter 5:5b-7
Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

To them, the idea of clothing themselves was to put on their robe, wrap it around them and tie it. (Put on robe and tie it). I’m covered for the better part of my body with this robe. So, it is to be with Humility. It is something that we are to “put on” and wear – to cover ourselves in it. Notice that he says, “Clothe yourself” and “Humble yourself.” Yes, God enables us to be humble, but the emphasis here is on our action.

I've heard people make jokes about, “Be careful how you pray – don’t pray for humility! If you do, God will teach you these things by humiliating you.” I’m telling you: that is all wrong. Don't be careful how you pray in that sense – pray dangerously, in that sense, knowing that God loves you and will help you grow in ways you never imagined and will sustain you through any trial. You’ll come out the other side a better Christian. Pray that God grants you humility.

But, also, bear your responsibility to examine yourself to see where pride is lurking. Examine where you are not humble and actively seek ways to put on humility in those areas.

Context:

The book of 1 Peter is actually a letter. In it, Peter gives instructions to the church on how to behave as Christians in an ungodly and Christ-hostile world. He talks about how to behave toward the world and how to behave toward fellow believers.

He starts in Chapter 1 to talk about being holy. It seems like he is going to talk about Holiness and avoiding sin. Then, in 1:14-16 he makes a transitional statement that reveals the point of rest of the letter, “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance,but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,since it is written,‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’”

The first point of holiness is to obey God as children — in this case, little children — who are completely dependant on their parents. Being obedient as a child is a statement of humility. Humility is required for holiness because pride is the #1 source of sin. He first establishes our need to humble ourselves toward Christ who bought us. He then goes on to show how that humility works its way into our behavior both towards people who are unsaved and toward brothers and sisters in Christ who are saved.

He says in v22, “Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,”

In the latter part of Chapter 2 his begins breaking it down for us to see how it applies in various roles. In 2:13 – 16 he tells us how to live as loving, humble citizens of a secular government. And sums it up in v.17 saying, “Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.”

In 2:17 – 25 he tells us how to live as humble, loving servants with ungodly masters. This applies today toward having a job and how we relate to our boss. For you, it might relate to how to deal with teachers, campus cops, or cafeteria staff. He says basically, suffer humbly and lovingly with whatever they do to you. In 2:21 “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.”

In 3:1-7 he tells us how to live as loving, humble husbands and wives and sums up with this statement to everyone in v8, “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.”

In 3:9-4:19 he tells us how to behave toward those that persecute us. And in the midst of it, he sums it up with this statement in vs. 8-11, “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.”

In chapter 5, vs. 1-5a, he tells the elders of the church how to behave as loving, humble overseers of the people who happen to be in their charge and the people in their charge to be submissive to them.

In 5:5b - 12 he sums up the whole letter. The key portion of which is our passage today, 1 Peter 5:5b-7 Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

From this we can see that being unloving, selfish, prideful, and failing to submit ourselves are key causes of our sin.

“God opposes the proud but gives grace (undeserved merit or favor) to the humble.” Do you trust God to give you undeserved merit or favor?

“Casting all your anxieties on him…” Our anxiety (worry) goes away as we trust God. If we have trusted God with our salvation, how much more can we trust God with our day-to-day needs? If we are prideful, we are failing to trust God. Should we be putting our prideful desire to be liked, to be respected, to be comfortable, and to be in control above our trust in God?

“…because he cares for you.” God does not want to humiliate you. He wants you to be humble so you can rely on him and him alone. He wants to “exalt you at the proper time.” He wants to give you undeserved merit or favor. But, he wants to be the supplier of that and have you trust in him for it – not go around seeking it for yourself, which is pride. He is opposed to that.

Some possible examples of day-to-day stumbling blocks to humility:

Entertainment:

• TV remote? Choose the station / show? Are you a “My Show” fiend?
• Where to sit in the room?
• Always need to be the banker (monopoly)?

Chores:

• Favorite job / least appealing job
• Will only work for pay?
• “Not my job.”

Conversation:

• Are you usually the center of attention?
• Do you have story to go with every other story?
• Are you an interrupter?
• Talk over others?
• Monopolize the conversation – exclude those you don’t want to hear?
• Are you an anticipator – finishing everyone’s sentences?

Generosity:

• Ever share? Ever give to the church?
• Expect a pay-back?
• Take the last cookie?

Sin:

• Lying – to get out of trouble, or to draw attention to ourselves
• Stealing – wanting something we think we deserve to have more than the owner
• Cheating – to get a grade we did not earn,either for favor with teacher and parents – or to lie about how diligently we studied.
• Outburst of Anger (wrath) – “what is this you have done to me?” “It's not fair!”
• Anxiety and Worry – I have to take care of it. I have to get it right. I might be made fun of or I might not get what I want.
• Cussing – (Eph 4:29) “to look cool” – to “be funny” – to “fit in”. I don't want to look like a nerd, or a school girl, or a momma's boy, or a little kid.
• Not letting others know about Jesus – not witnessing (fear of persecution).

Some are obvious – Envy, Lust, Greediness, Jealousy. Probably Gluttony belongs on the list.

So, in summary…

“Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another” and “Humble Yourself”

… and me, too.