Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
1 Peter 5:5b (ESV)
In 1 Peter 5:1-4, Peter gave instructions to the elders who led the church. Then, in the first part of 1 Peter 5:5, he instructed those who were younger to be submissive to the elders. And then he told them both to clothe themselves with humility toward one another.
Humility is a virtue mentioned several times in the Scripture (Eph. 4:2, Col. 3:12). Humility is, in many ways, the opposite of pride. This is reflected in Philippians 3:12, where Paul tells us, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”
I should take pride in what I do, giving my best to whatever task I undertake. However, pride can also be detrimental when I consider myself to be better than others. Pride exalts the individual at the expense of unity. But humility builds up the body, promoting unity.
Clothed with Humility
To be clothed with humility is reminiscent of John 13:4-5. In this passage, Jesus got up from the meal, took off his outer clothes, wrapped a towel around his waist, and washed the feet of his disciples. And when he had finished, he instructed his disciples to do likewise (John 13:14-15).
Washing feet was a common practice in Jesus’ day and was typically performed by a servant. Foot washing is no longer practiced in much of the world. But Jesus’ example to us is still applicable. To clothe ourselves with humility and lovingly serve one another.
There are some things that I do better than other people. And it would be easy to be proud of that. Instead, I should consider how I can use those abilities to serve others with a spirit of humility and love.
Don’t think of any task as beneath you. If you struggle with pride, like I do, look for opportunities to serve others in simple ways. Pick up trash that you see. Help serve meals to the homeless. Make an effort to make newcomers feel welcome. Clothe yourself with humility.
