From Humility to Exaltation
“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” James 4.10
“If you exalt yourself, he will pull you down. If you lie down in the dust before him, he will lift you up. It is according to God’s usual way of acting to practice these reversals. Mary truly sang, “He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.” So says Charles Spurgeon
John expresses a similar thought when he writes, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3.30)
God is a God of paradoxes. He lifts up the fallen and He puts down the mighty. He gives purpose for life to those who trust and believe, yet, He offers no satisfaction or purpose to the one who refuses to submit to His will. In a “get-ahead” world where self-promotion is the standard, this thought of humility comes as a negative rather than a positive. As James brings us to this point in his letter, he had encouraged, yea, he has required that the believer submit himself to God’s will while abandoning individual, personal habits and unacceptable duplicitous mindsets.
This humility must be self-imposed or else it may end up being humiliation. James uses an imperative indicating a requirement, and since it is a passive, it suggests a giving up of one’s control and giving in to the control of God. The word “humble” translates the Greek word, “tapeinoō” which means to be ranked below others, who are honored or rewarded, or to humble or abase oneself by humble living. When speaking of one’s soul, it indicates bringing down one’s pride.
While these truths may be applied to our relationship with others, James specifically applies it to our relationship with our Lord. “In the sight of” translates the Greek word “enōpion” which indicates being in the presence of – being nearby – in close proximity. When speaking, of being in the sight of, one may infer that the person in question may simply be somewhere within view of another. James stipulates that this person in question is close – possibly within arm’s reach. It suggests recognizing God’s presence in all our ways which is the truest incentive to humility.
Someone years ago said that happiness is not found by searching for it, but we stumble across it on the path to duty. I believe a similar sentiment is intended here. True spiritual exaltation is not found through our attempts at attaining it, but we are exalted by our devotion to and humility before our Savior-God. In I Peter 5.6, it is, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time,” namely, in His dealings concerning His sovereign will.
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galatians 6.9
John expresses a similar thought when he writes, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3.30)
God is a God of paradoxes. He lifts up the fallen and He puts down the mighty. He gives purpose for life to those who trust and believe, yet, He offers no satisfaction or purpose to the one who refuses to submit to His will. In a “get-ahead” world where self-promotion is the standard, this thought of humility comes as a negative rather than a positive. As James brings us to this point in his letter, he had encouraged, yea, he has required that the believer submit himself to God’s will while abandoning individual, personal habits and unacceptable duplicitous mindsets.
This humility must be self-imposed or else it may end up being humiliation. James uses an imperative indicating a requirement, and since it is a passive, it suggests a giving up of one’s control and giving in to the control of God. The word “humble” translates the Greek word, “tapeinoō” which means to be ranked below others, who are honored or rewarded, or to humble or abase oneself by humble living. When speaking of one’s soul, it indicates bringing down one’s pride.
While these truths may be applied to our relationship with others, James specifically applies it to our relationship with our Lord. “In the sight of” translates the Greek word “enōpion” which indicates being in the presence of – being nearby – in close proximity. When speaking, of being in the sight of, one may infer that the person in question may simply be somewhere within view of another. James stipulates that this person in question is close – possibly within arm’s reach. It suggests recognizing God’s presence in all our ways which is the truest incentive to humility.
Someone years ago said that happiness is not found by searching for it, but we stumble across it on the path to duty. I believe a similar sentiment is intended here. True spiritual exaltation is not found through our attempts at attaining it, but we are exalted by our devotion to and humility before our Savior-God. In I Peter 5.6, it is, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time,” namely, in His dealings concerning His sovereign will.
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galatians 6.9
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