Benefits of Humility

August 27th, 2026
by Lance Waldie

1 Peter 5:5-7 You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

Peter’s words in 1 Peter 5:5-7 sound just like James’ words in 4:7-10. Though it is estimated that Peter wrote his letter some 20 years after James, the fact that he says essentially the same thing James did 20 years prior points to the commonality of the problem James saw in the Jerusalem Church. Though Peter’s audience was distinct (1 Pet. 1:1-2), the same problems existed in multiple cities where there was a church. Submission to God and humbling oneself in His sight was, and is, the ultimate answer—coming through repentance and prayer.

An insubordinate flock under their pastors is one that thwarts the sanctification process and makes life and ministry difficult, if not impossible, for the pastors of any church. Thus, Peter’s admonition to the younger men, as it was to the wives in relation to their husbands (3:1-6) and to the church in relation to the governing authorities (2:13), was that they “submit” to the church elders. The word means “to line up under” as a soldier under authority. Few need this instruction more than young men, then as now (cf. Heb. 13:7, 17), for young men tend to believe themselves to be wise when in fact they are dull, and strong when in fact they are helpless.

Peter’s words in v. 6, which are God’s words, instruct those with such pompous attitudes to “clothe yourselves with humility toward one another.” To “clothe” literally means “to tie something on oneself,” and perhaps Peter recalled the picture of Jesus on the night he before He died when He clothed himself in a towel to wash the feet of the disciples (John 13:3-11). This humility is “lowliness of mind”—an attitude so contrary to worldly thinking that those who would abide in it would be completely set apart from the world in submission to those in authority. Those without humility believe themselves superior to all; they are therefore unable to submit to anyone. Note God’s words through His prophet Isaiah: “But to this one I will look, to him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at my word” (66:2).

Now since “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (v. 5; cf. Prov. 3:34), true Christians have only one course of action: “humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God.” God’s “mighty hand” was an expression associated with how He delivered Israel out of Egypt (Ex. 3:19; Dan. 9:15), but it is also descriptive of God’s sovereign work through His chosen leaders in the church. Obedient ones will be “exalted”—both on earth and in heaven.

In v. 6, Peter says to “cast” one’s “anxiety” upon God. To cast is to throw something, and here in this verse it signifies how one humbles himself. Failure to cast is to continue in one’s pride and with one’s quest to do all things themselves. David wrote the same thing in Psalm 55:22 after being betrayed by a friend. Peter must have drawn from this so as to encourage arrogant people that even the mighty King David submitted himself and his work to God.

Food For Thought
As Christians, our humility will be seen as we accept the suffering that God has ordained for us without complaining. After all, God told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9). Jesus promised that everyone who exalts himself will be humbled; he who humbles himself will be exalted (Luke 14:11; cf. Jas. 4:10). Humility makes us less apt to be offended by others and allows our relationships to run much smoother. With humility, we can actually listen to people! So, let us cast our worries on God, humble ourselves before Him, and let affliction drive us to God instead of allowing it to sever us from Him.