Humility and Anxiety

1 Peter 5:5-7

Immanuel – 10/3/21

We hear that you are only valuable if you are wanted. We hear that the way you are born is not the way you are, and what you are is nothing more than a highly evolved animal. We hear that sex does not need marriage; and marriage is only as good as your happiness. We hear that Christians are hateful and God is whatever you want Him to be. And we hear that freedom is not having anyone tell you what to do or how to think.

What you hear is a world that has rejected its Maker; a world drunk on its own arrogance.

Friedrich Nietzsche imagined a crazed prophet, running through the streets, shouting to the people what their arrogance has accomplished. With piercing brilliance, the madman speaks:

“Where is God gone?” he called out. “I mean to tell you! We have killed him you and I! We are his murderers! But how have we done it? How were we able to drink up the sea? Who gave us the sponge to wipe away the whole horizon? What did we do when we loosened this earth from its sun? Whither does it now move? Whither do we move? Away from all suns? Do we not dash on unceasingly? Backwards, sideways, forwards, in all directions? Is there still an above and below? Do we not stray, as through infinite nothingness? Does not empty space breathe upon us? Has it not become colder? Does not night come on continually, darker and darker? Shall we not have to light lanterns in the morning?

Do we not hear the noise of the grave-diggers who are burying God? Do we not smell the divine putrefaction? For even gods putrefy! God is dead! God remains dead! And we have killed him! How shall we console ourselves, the most murderous of all murderers? The holiest and the mightiest that the world has so far possessed, has bled to death under our knifes, who will wipe the blood from us? With what water could we cleanse ourselves? What festival of atonement, what sacred games shall we have to devise? Is not the magnitude of this deed too great for us? Shall we not ourselves have to become gods, merely to seem worthy of it?”

-The Parable of the Madman (1882)

Though I do not agree with Nietzsche’s beliefs, I cannot help but see that he, like some godless prophet, was able to look more than a hundred years into the future with astonishing clarity. He knew exactly what would happen when creatures reject their Creator. We would have to become worthy of the throne made vacant. We would have to become our own gods.

But what Nietzsche never understood is that God lives, and God cannot be moved. It is only within the drunken delusions of arrogance that anyone thinks they can remove God from their lives, let alone reality. God’s eternal throne feels no tremor even as a world teeming with fools rages against Him. Indeed, it is not He who will be shaken, but the arrogant.

Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished. -Proverbs 16:6

Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud.

-Proverbs 16:18-19

Yes, God loves the lowly in spirit, the humble, the submissive. Peter knows that God’s chosen people are fighting against the current: the current of arrogance that plunges into the abyss. He knows that it is hard to stand fast in such a current, and impossible to do it alone. We need to link arms. We need to stand behind the Rock; the One that breaks the current and makes for still waters. And all of that takes humility.

Indeed, we need humility in this hostile world, lest we be swept away with all the others.

Purpose

What is Biblical humility?

What is the relationship between humility and anxiety?

Read 1 Peter 5:1-7

In his letter to the elect exiles of the church, Peter is very concerned with how we should live in relationship to the institutions of man. If this world is not our home, then how do we relate to the government? If our treasures are in heaven, then what is our incentive to be a good employee? What is marriage to look like? And what about church?

Peter writes about these and we have spent time examining each one. But by far, Peter spills the most ink over the institution of church. In chapter 5 he is returning to this topic yet again; instructing elders how they are to shepherd the local church. It is a weighty and noble calling.

In verse 5, continuing his instruction, he moves to another group within the church.

Read vs 5a

Those Who Are Younger

Peter has pivoted. He was addressing the elders. Now he writes to those who are younger. So who exactly is he talking to? Younger people is a rather broad category. I think it’s pretty safe to say that Peter is focusing on teenagers, young adults, 20 somethings: these would all be included.

And when we read the command in verse 5, “be subject,” we must understand that Peter is commanding younger people into humble submission.

Now, there is a continuation of thought here that you need to see; which is what the “likewise” indicates.

Peter has just shown us the Christ-like way that elders should shepherd the local church. They are to lead and oversee eagerly, humbly, and faithfully. With all that they are, they are to follow the Chief Shepherd: Jesus Christ. Because Jesus eagerly, humbly, and faithfully loved His flock. He loved us so much that He laid down His life for us. In the same way, elders are to love and lead their flocks.

Now, as the elders exercise Christ-like leadership, younger Christians are to exercise Christ-like submission. In chapter 2, Peter went into the depths of Christ’s submissiveness to the Father’s will. And reflections of Christ’s submission and humility, before the Father, are all throughout this epistle.

In a similar way, younger Christians are to submit to the local church’s spiritual fathers – the elders. As a spiritual father, Paul urged a similar thing.

For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. -1 Thessalonians 2:11-12

Since elders function like the spiritual fathers of the local church, younger people are called to submit to these spiritual fathers – to walk in a manner worthy of God; just as Christ submitted to His Father – proving Himself to be infinitely worthy.

Before Jesus was given the throne, He was given the cross. The pattern is true for us. Our youth are to learn humble submission, so that in the day of leadership they will know how to shepherd with humility.

So what exactly does it look like for younger Christians to subject themselves to their elders? It means they choose to respect the elders. They give their words weight. They choose to see the best in their elders, even though it might not be immediately clear. They are eager to support the leadership and direction of the elders. They follow the elders - as the elders follow Christ, as Christ followed His Father.

And the only exception to all this is if the elders are leading towards sin.

The question might have popped into you mind, “Isn’t everyone in the church called to submit to the elders in the same way? Why is Peter just addressing younger believers?”

Well I don’t know for sure, but I do have an idea. If there is a group of people that are more prone to independent-thinking, to rebellious attitudes, isn’t it those who are young? Rebellious youth is not a product of our times. These are the ones that need a strong reminder to not give in to these inclinations, but to follow Christ into submissiveness – particularly by subjecting themselves to the elders.

Of course, there is an implication here for the whole church; and we realize that Peter’s command is not just for young Christians. If those who are younger are to subject themselves to the elders, does it not follow that everyone else in the church must also submit to the elders? Absolutely!

The elders have a responsibility to shepherd and oversee faithfully, just as Christ leads and oversees. You have a responsibility to submit humbly. Not trying to take charge, not bucking against their directives, not grumbling and gossiping. But following your elders in such a way that they take joy in leading you.

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. -Hebrews 13:17

How much better to have happy leaders? How much better for the elders to be filled with joy? Elders that joyfully follow Christ as they lead you, will only help to cultivate your own joy. Yes, submit to the elders, and trust God for their leadership. They will have to answer to Him.

And then, very directly, Peter addresses everyone in the church – elders and new believers, young and old, men and women.

Read vs 5b

All of You

“All of you,” Peter writes. Everyone in the church is to clothe themselves in humility; to take humility and put it on. The Greek verb literally means “tie on” humility.

In humility we must all follow Jesus our Lord; for in humility He picked up a towel and tied it around His waist. Then taking a basin, He got on bended knee, took the street filthy feet of the disciples, and began to wash – starting with Peter. The King of kings and the Lord of lords eagerly, humbly, making Himself like the lowest of servants.

In the same way we are to tie on humility. In the same way we are to help wash the dirt from each other’s lives. In humility we are to serve one another, even if our hands get dirty in the process. In humility we are to honor each other, even at the expense of people’s opinions about us.

Pride – or arrogance – would give no one the opportunity to look better than you. Or, arrogance would drive you to insecurity/depression/anxiety if someone is better than you in some way. Humility is eager to celebrate what is good in another, and quick to help them increase.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others as more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests; but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.

-Philippians 2:3-5

Yes, this is the humility we are to exhibit towards one another: a humility that generously, eagerly honors and serves, even if it comes at a cost to ourselves – which is exactly what Christ perfectly and selflessly modeled for us.

For “God opposes the proud but give grace to the humble.” Peter is quoting Solomon.

Toward the scorners He is scornful, but to the humble He gives favor.

-Proverbs 3:34

Notice how the verbs in Peter’s quote are all in the present tense. “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” To be painfully precise, it could also read, “God continually opposes the proud, but continually give grace to the humble.”

Those with an arrogant heart, who have wanted a life without God, who have tried to become gods of their own: the Almighty is continually set against them.

But for the humble, the Infinite One endlessly supplies grace. Grace is not a thing or an idea. Grace is power. Grace is the power to live righteously. Grace is the power to please God. Grace is the power to humbly consider others as more significant than yourself. Grace is the power that makes the heart of love beat.

Grace is not something you can make for yourself. It is all from God. His generosity, His righteousness, His wisdom, His love comes electric, streaming into your heart. And the heart receives it by faith.

All week there has been a charge of gracious humility around Immanuel. People giving up their time to work to exhaustion. People deferring to other’s ideas with cheerful attitudes. People eager to do tasks that few others will recognize. People humbly serving the community, knowing that we may never see them again. It is the grace of God alive and working in our midst. Praise God who gives grace to the humble!

But there is something that should cause all of us to be on guard, for there is a snake in the grass – and he is a liar. We need to know where this danger is, and how to find it.

All I have mentioned thus far – the serving, the honoring of others, submitting to elders – all of it can be twisted into self-righteousness. The motivation to serve others might be to win their approval. You could honor others so they, in turn, will honor you. You might submit to authorities to win their favor. What appears to be Christ-like humility is really just a means to self-justify.

This is why Jesus was so angry with the Pharisees of His day, because on the outside they wore a thin veil of humility, but on the inside they were filled with self-righteousness. It was arrogance masquerading as humility. It can appear so good, so authentic, but that ancient serpent is coiled there, ready to steal away life.

The knife that divides true and false humility is found in the heart.

Read vs 6

Humility: Anxiety’s Antidote

Now we can see the true nature of humility. The root of a lowly spirit is now visible. Humility, in its truest Biblical sense, is not the absence of pride or the awareness of your limitations. Biblical humility is an attitude before God.

An arrogant person trusts in himself. A humble person trusts in God.

Humility is dependency on God. Humility recognizes that everything you need is found in Christ. He is the Bread of Life, the Living Water, the Shepherd and Overseer of your soul. Humility runs to the Almighty Refuge with empty hands and seeks for Christ to fill them. Humility runs to God with a soul starving for Him.

It is to the humble that God cries out:

“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, but and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourself with rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live.” -Isaiah 55:1-3

In Biblical humility, there is no place for pulling yourself up by your bootstraps; there is only running to the Almighty Refuge with hands empty and a heart that is needy.

That is what it means, in verse 6, to humble yourself under the mighty hand of God. His hand is mighty to supply, and ready to meet the needs of those who seek Him: water for the thirsty and bread for the hungry – all given generously without price.

And perhaps now you can begin to see how humility and anxiety are linked together.

Read vs 7

What is anxiety but worry, apprehension, unease? Anxiety is uncertainty that your surroundings are not going to work out in a way you want them to, or you are not going to feel affirmed by the people around you. Anxiety is fearing what you cannot control. It is a fear that sometimes leads to panic.

Ultimately, anxiety is arrogance twisted into a form of fear. Only pride would drive a person to think that they can control the world around them. Only pride thinks that everyone should like them. And only pride would drive a person to anxiety when these things are uncertain.

But how gentle is God with us who are so riddled with pride? God knows we live in a world of chaos and there is so little that we can control. He knows we are anxious creatures. And so He doesn’t just say, “Stop being anxious.” He asks us to trust Him with our anxieties, to cast them upon Him.

And look at the end of verse 7; the most powerful motivation is there. God cares for you. God cares for you.

“Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the [unbelievers] seek after these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” -Matthew 6:26-33

God cares for you, little flock. He sees the needs of your body, and He cares for them. He sees your need for love, and He cares for you. Give your heavenly Father all of your worries, and trust in His plan.

Christ was stripped of His clothing, His comfort, and His dignity, as He was hanging, cursed, on the cross. Though He could have called down a legion of angels to rescue Him; still He humbly trusted His Father. And how good was the plan of the Father?

After Jesus’ humiliation He was exalted to the right hand of the Father where He rules and reigns in glorious humility. And Jesus was humiliated so that you could stand confidently, humbly before the Father that graciously supplies all of your needs!

So trust God with every anxiety. Trust Him with your significance. At the proper time God will give you praise and glory and honor; as Peter said in 1:7. Ask God to give you your daily bread and all the other physical needs you have; because He values you and cares for you.

A humble person is a needy person, and they are ok with their neediness because they know their Father. They know that at the right time and in the right ways God generously provides for His children.

As He provides for your physical needs, He also provides for your spiritual needs. He gives you His word to nourish you; so be sure to feast upon it. He has given you elders to help guide you; so be sure to submit to them. And above these, He has given you the Holy Spirit; so be sure to walk in the Spirit!

Do you know what the humble have in common? They are people of prayer. They understand that everything comes from God and so they are desperate for God’s provision. They go to Him for their daily bread and for heaven to touch earth. The humble are a people on their knees. Are you a person of prayer?

O how God’s love abounds towards those who depend on Him!

Yes, my brothers and sisters, cast all your anxieties upon your heavenly Father. His shoulders are broad and His hands are open. He cares for you and you can trust Him! This much the humble understand.