A pop song counsels us, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” We see easily that worry and happiness are opposed, but it is not nearly so obvious that worry is contrary to humility. Only pride clings to worry.
At first it may seem that humility leads to worry. The proudest man believes in himself without reserve and thus convinces himself that he will be his own savior from all trouble. It would seem to be a matter of humility to recognize with heavy concern that you might be ruined after all. Now I grant that when pride reaches an insane extreme we might experience some psychological relief through our dangerous delusion. Woe to those who thus make gods of themselves; the Lord brooks no rivals! (Isa 2.17–22) But ordinarily pride has some sensible anticipation of trouble far beyond its power, and then worry rushes in like a flood.
The only safe way to find relief from worry is, in all humility, to admit our weakness and vulnerability, and to worship the true God, trusting Him as our omnipotent, compassionate Savior from all ills. This insight arises from meditation on 1 Peter 5.6–7 in the light of all Scripture. Conceptually, this text of great consolation has four lines corresponding to our four points.
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God,
that he may exalt you in due time:
casting all your care upon him;
for he careth for you.
Humility Commanded (1 Pet 5.6a)
Humility is embracing one’s true and proper place in relation to God. It is to recognize His “mighty hand,” an anthropomorphic designation of omnipotence, His infinite power to do all things that are not contrary to either His will or His knowledge.1 We speak of His many attributes but omnipotence is often the one highlighted in Scripture when distinguishing God from His creatures. Our power is extremely limited and inherently derivative. God is mighty in and by Himself. Without depersonalizing Him, we can truly say that God is power. His attributes are not “accidents” but His very essence.
We must recognize this not just abstractly, but in relation to ourselves. God is all-powerful and I am not. Beyond that, my strength is so small that, in comparison with His, it is as nothing. Besides, whatever power I do have is only a dim reflection of His strength in me which He may stop supplying at any time. I am in His hands to do with as He pleases. I am totally helpless against the appointments of His all-wise Providence. To own this in conscious dependence on God with a worshipful heart is to humble ourselves under His mighty hand. This is the moral duty of all personal creatures, both men and angels. Failure in this is the very essence of that wretched pride first found in Lucifer and then in Adam and his posterity.
Humility Rewarded (1 Pet 5.6b)
The second line is a purpose statement, “that he may exalt you in due time.” The metaphor of depth and height occupies lines one and two. Recognize your low place in relation to God in your present circumstances of suffering, and He will raise you up from your temporal misery by a full deliverance from it with commendation. When will this exaltation happen? “In due time,” when He judges it best to do so. Ultimately, this promise shall be completely realized when Christ returns in power and glory. Then His godly ones will awake from the dust of the earth and shine as the brightness of the firmament, and while those who refused to humble themselves will be thrown down in reputation and in ruin (see Dan 12.1–3; cf. Matt 23.12; Luke 1.52).
Humility Activated (1 Pet 5.7a)
The third line is grammatically related to the first; it describes one way in which we Christian believers humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand: by “casting all your care upon Him.” Psalm 55.22 uses the same figurative language: “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” Spiritually, this is forsaking all self-reliance in your trouble for total reliance upon God. Its fruit is faith-filled prayers committing every matter of concern to Him and leaving it there. The metaphor is giving up a heavy burden for the Lord to carry instead. It is to exchange proud worry for humble trust in the Lord.
The best way to find relief is to lay your load upon God; He will take it from you and also carry you. . . .He doesn’t care how much weight a Christian lays on His back. A true Israelite may find relief and best please his God at the same time. God does not delight to see tears in your eyes, or a worried face. Your groans and sighs are not music in His ears. He would rather have you free yourself of your burden by casting it upon Him so that He might rejoice in your joy and comfort. Now, true confidence in God, and resting upon God, will both free you of your burden and also bring the strength of God to sustain and keep you from falling.2
Humility Inspired (1 Pet 5.7b)
“He careth for you,” but your care and God’s are not the same (different Greek words). Yours is worrisome anxiety; His is a loving interest in you. A loose paraphrase is, “Let Him have all your worries and cares, for He is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you.” Will you not, then, repent of all self-sufficiency, of trying to be your own savior, and rest in the Lord of all power and compassionate mercy? Ω
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1 Muller, R. A. (1985). Dictionary of Latin and Greek Theological Terms : Drawn Principally from Protestant Scholastic Theology. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Book House, “omnipotentia.”
2 Samuel Blackerby’s comment (paraphrased) in Treasury of David by Spurgeon, in loc