A DIFFERENT WAY TO THE TOP
JAMES 4:6-10
JAMES 4:6-10 NKJV
6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:
"God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble."
7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
OBSERVATION:
There are hundreds of books written regarding success. How to become successful. Principles that govern success. But James presents a different path to the top. Humility.
Don't stop listening or reading. When I am speaking of humility. I am not advocating the world's distorted perspective.
From the world's viewpoint, humility can take on the appearance of having a low self-esteem. Head bowed, eyes averted, and a soft whisper voice; the humble doormat that gets taken advantage of.
But that's not the Biblical concept of humility. Jesus was humble but certainly no doormat. Biblical humility is submitting our will and ways to God and His ways. Humility is the opposite of pride. Pride pursues its own path and its own ways. Pride does not submit to God and His ways. And pride can be so subtle. It is not always the boastful and loud who are operating in pride. Often, it is the quiet who calmly pursue what they want, giving no thought to God's ways.
In our passage today, we see that God resists the proud, those who go their own way. And He gives His grace to the humble. The very next verse is connected. Therefore, because God gives grace to the humble, submit to God. Then resist the devil, and he will run from you.
Then, because he is still on the same subject, James talks about repentance. And we all know it takes humility to repent and change.
Even though these verses are quite serious, they are not negative. Because as we humble ourselves in the sight of God, He will lift us up. Notice we go low before the Lord, acknowledging Him and His ways, and He lifts us up. That's His way, the best way to the top.
APPLICATION:
As we understand God's love for us and His desire for our best, humility becomes a powerful word, not a weak word.
And walking before the Lord in humility is a never-ending process. As we continue to grow in God's grace, we see areas where pride has been established, and so, we repent and make the change.
This weeding out of pride does not beat us down. It lifts us up above the dark, fearful, negative pride-filled world around us. It's just a different way to the top.
PRAYER:
Dear Lord, show me what it means to humble myself in Your sight. I need more of Your grace in my life.