Friday 15 September 2023
- Bible Book:
- 1 Peter
And all of you must clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for 'God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.' (v. 5)
Background
We are used to church organisations that are hierarchical but the Early Church had no hierarchy. Men and women from all races and all walks of society shared equally in the service of God: "There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28).
Earlier in this letter Peter wrote about the priesthood of all believers and said all are chosen to "proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light" (1 Peter 2:9). Paul said what distinguished one believer from another was not holding a particular office but just the variety of our God-given gifts: "Now there are varieties of gifts…[and] varieties of services… but it is the same Lord who activates them in everyone" (1 Corinthians 12:4-6).
The creation of any hierarchy tends to encourage the view that the person at the top is more important or knows better and this can easily lead to pride. Peter summarises the scripture view and Jesus clearly did not approve of pride: "For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted" (Luke 14:11). He famously told the parable of the pharisee and the tax collector to illustrate that (Luke 18:9-14). This passage explores what leadership should be like and it’s clearly not about personal aggrandisement or domination. It’s about setting an example. Jesus modelled that example when he insisted on washing the feet of his disciples (John 13:1-17). It is also about recognising the faith of others and mutually growing together as God’s children. An Early Church father, St Augustine, famously wrote: "It was pride that changed angels into devils and it is humility that makes men and women as angels."
To Ponder:
- What evidence of pride do you see in the Church today?
- What are the hallmarks of good leadership as identified by Peter?
- What qualities of grace do you see in the humble?
Prayer
Father, keep me humble. Don’t let me think I am more important than others or pretend to be better than I am. Make me appreciate more the gifts of others. Amen.