From time to time we take a look at one of the 60 or so “one another” commands in Bible. They’re given to Christians so we can know how to properly relate to each other in the church and so we can be built up, others can be built up, and our church can thrive in the love of God.
Today we have a tender command given with powerful imagery.
1 Peter 5:5b – 5 All of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.
One scholar wrote, “Humility is the oil that allows relationships in the church to run smoothly and lovingly.”[1] It is an absolutely essential virtue in the Christian life.
When Peter wrote these words, humility was not an ideal in Greco-Roman society.[2] Today it is a virtue, thanks to how the Bible has permeated our society. But we know humility is not a natural inclination of the human heart. We struggle with selfishness, self-centeredness, and pride.
That’s why Peter reminds us of what God said all the way back in Proverbs. Not only does pride not help us, but God actively resists the proud. James also quotes that verse in his letter.
There is one perfect example of humility given to us in the Bible. It’s when, on the night before His crucifixion, Jesus put on a servant’s towel, and washed His disciples’ feet. There has never been a greater example of humility. God Himself stooped to do the lowest job. Not begrudgingly, but lovingly and contentedly.
Undoubtedly Peter had that scene in mind as he used the illustration of putting humility on like a garment. But that’s not just good writing, it’s actually important.
Everyone here today is clothed – thank you! But at the start of your day, you picked those clothes. You decided to wear that shirt instead of the others. Those shoes. It was a willful choice to present yourself a certain way. And tomorrow you’re going to do the same thing. And then Tuesday, and Wednesday. Every day you choose to clothe yourself with certain garments.
And that’s how Peter views this command. That we make a daily, willful choice to put on humility, not just in the way we think about ourselves, but humility toward one another. It’s not just about not being arrogant or not being a boaster or not demanding your own way, but wearing humility the way Jesus did. An active humility that serves others rather than always expecting to be served.
And not only are we commanded to clothe hearts, our tongues, our thoughts, our actions with humility, but Peter uses a peculiar word here – he’s the only one to use it in the New Testament. The clothing refers to the apron of a slave, like the one Jesus used at the last supper, but the verse can be paraphrased this way: “Put on and wrap yourselves about with humility, so that the covering of humility cannot possibly be stripped from you.”[3]
The Christian life is not only about belief, and not only about behavior, it’s also about deciding ahead of time to go God’s way. To look for ways you can carry out your Christianity. To choose the path of humility before the moment presents itself. And not allowing our circumstances or pressures to strip the power of God from how we live.
When we do that, we we clothe ourselves with humility, God can lavish His grace on us.