Humble Thyself! Just not too much

As we are focusing on worry this week, we are going through a series of verses.  One of them is 1 Peter 5:7, which says “⁷casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you”

But that is merely the end of a sentence.  When it is just part of a sentence, there is always more to the story.

This verse is the second half of the sentence began in verse 6 ” ⁶Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time…”

So what is this saying to us?

Well, the passage surrounding these verses speaks out to leadership mostly, but there is always something there for everyone if we just look deep enough.  Chapter 5 starts out with an exhortation to the elders of the church to shepherd the flock that has been placed within their care.  To lead them voluntarily according to the will of God.  To love them and care for them rather than to do it for personal gain or to make yourself appear as better than them.

It calls the younger men to be subject to their elders, and for all to have humility towards one another.  To be sober and on the lookout for our adversary who is seeking to destroy us.  To stand strong and resist the enemy – even in the midst of persecution.

That’s where this passage really shines out to us.  That’s where the rubber hits the road, as it were.

If we will humble ourselves before God, seeking His face and calling out to Him, He will be faithful!  Verse 10 promises us that God will perfect us, confirm, strengthen and establish us, for we have been called to His eternal glory in Christ.

Humility, however, isn’t exactly my strong suit.  And I suspect it isn’t yours either.

Humility doesn’t come easily to humanity.  We don’t like to step aside and let someone else get the praise.  We don’t like to take the blame and let someone else walk away clean and unscathed.  We don’t like to look bad.  We don’t like to be an unsung hero hiding out in the shadows.  And we like to receive the praise and accolades for doing well!

But God calls us to practice humility.  To put others before ourselves.  To bear one another’s burdens.  To seek restoration when we have been wronged instead of holding a grudge.  To value those around us – even when it’s hard.  To do the right thing even when no one else will see.  To point the focus away from ourselves and towards Him.

Ouch.

I have to admit – I’m not the most humble person.  I have my moments when I really want that attention.  Moments when I want people to know that I did the right thing, that I was wronged and they need to feel sorry for me.  Moments when I want people to think that I have special knowledge or insight that they need to hear and recognize.   That I did something good, or that I excel at something and deserve praise for it.  Times when I am full of pride.

And on the flip side, there are times that I don’t want people to notice me.  I don’t want to receive a compliment for doing something well because I don’t think I’m good enough to deserve it.

Wait a minute… did I just say that we can be too humble?

Not in so many words.  It’s actually that we can be too prideful – or, rather, un-prideful.  There is the side of pride that most people recognize, the side that says “Hey!  Look at me!  Aren’t I great!  I deserve to stand on that pedestal or in that spotlight!” but there is also the side of pride that says “Why would you look at me?  I’m not worth anything.  I’m useless.  I can’t do anything right.  I have no value.  I’m nothing.”  That, my friends, is also throwing pride in God’s face.  That is saying that His creation doesn’t have any value.  That He screwed up.

And that is NOT humility.  Most definitely not!

For me, there are times that I’d rather no one said anything about my “performance” or talent.  I don’t do what I do to get kudos or recognition, and the day that I start seeking after that pedestal is the day I need to quit!  However… I have come to understand that there are people that need to share that they were blessed by something that I was a part of creating, and I need to learn to receive it and redirect it rather than blow it off.

God has given me a gift and called me to use it.  Why then, should I “poo-poo” it when someone comments on it?  The more correct response is to accept that compliment, and redirect it back to God.  After all, that’s where it belongs anyway.  To push it away or to feel weird about getting it is just as bad as gobbling it up.  Both are pride, and neither are humility.  The correct response is to receive it with grace and humility and to redirect it to God.

And it is a very difficult thing for me to do.

How about you?  Is there an area that God has gifted you?  Is it hard for you to receive a compliment in that area with grace and humility?  How do you deal with it?