Based on 1 Peter 5:5-11 (New King James Version)
“Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for, ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
The Bible speaks of humbling ourselves, including humbling ourselves before certain people worthy of respect in the Lord—that is, not necessarily the elderly (although they should be esteemed), but the elderly in the Lord's walk. It also teaches us even more to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God. What does this matter of humbling ourselves really mean? Does it mean lowering or descending in some way, as many interpret it?
Humbling ourselves, within itself, does not imply a lowering or descending from status, per se, but rather, it is used to help us understand that our way of thinking needs to change and that for our own good, adopting a more appropriate reasoning considering certain realities. Regarding the person who is elderly in the Lord, the person who has spent time and matured as the Word commands, respecting them is simply a recognition of a reality: that through their relationship with the Lord, they have achieved certain experiences that made them grow more and become more like Christ. This is what the Word says, for example: “For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:18-20. We must therefore know how to value this walk or seniority in the Lord. And as we read, it is not about knowledge (because no one knew more than the Pharisees and Scribes), but rather about living the law, the Word of God. Therefore, those who are worthy of honor are not necessarily the positions or titles that many boast, but rather those who have learned, applied, and even suffered for the Gospel. This is simply an example: There is a big difference between a believer who went to seminary and pastors a church with certain comforts and a brother or sister who has been persecuted or suffered for the gospel, and has sacrificed possessions and even relationships, freedoms, etc. for love of Christ. The Apostles were clear examples of this. And this was precisely the corruption that arose in the church in Corinth, where they mistreated Paul because of the Corinthians’ conceit, lack of maturity, and lack of respect.
But let's get to the most important thing. Is humbling oneself before God really just simply beginning to understand who He is and what He is worthy of? The words 'humble yourselves' is used, but it is simply beginning to accept a reality, both because God is worthy and also for our benefit. Furthermore, if a person does not begin to dedicate themselves to understanding who God is and all that they owe Him, I can say with certainty, based on the Word, that they will never find grace or forgiveness before God without this recognition and acceptance, and for many very logical reasons. Let's look at this passage: “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?” Psalm 8:3-4. All of creation proclaims who God is, His power, His dominion, and His authority. The Lord does not need an advertising campaign or marketing. It's simply a matter of using our senses and reasoning to begin to understand who God is. And this is also what the Word says: “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” Romans 1:20. Man needs absolutely nothing more than to dedicate themselves to observing things, including their own existence, in order to come to know and believe in who God is. God Himself says they are without excuse, undeniably. So, anyone who refuses to accept this is not for lack of evidence, but because they do not want to believe; they rebel against God, fully aware of this reality. Enoch had nothing written down to help him believe and honor God. Noah didn't need any of that either, nor did Abraham. They were men who attained God's grace simply by observing creation and believing in God as was necessary.
We owe everything to God. The Bible says this: “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” Colossians 1:16-17. And it says this also: “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!” Psalm 150:6. All existence, and even we ourselves, depend on God. The reality is that even our lungs breathe with the air God gives us, our hearts beat only because God allows it, and our bodies function only through Him. That's why He says that everything that breathes should praise the Lord, not out of humiliation, but as an acceptance of an irrefutable reality. Oh yes! Science can explain certain things and tell us how they work, but explaining something is one thing, but creating it, making it, and sustaining everything is another. And again, if you don't believe it, it's not because you can't believe it, but because you refuse, you rebel against it. When God confronts Job, what does He ask him? It says this: “Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said: ‘Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me. ‘Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone.” Job 38:1-6. So, will man be forgiven for his supposed or self-imposed ignorance? If Job, who was a man like God bore witness of him: “…that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” was confronted by God with these truths, what will be left for us if we do not value all His work, especially what He did on the cross through Christ? Will such a sin of taking so many things for granted be forgiven? It is written: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:7. If we don't learn to fear Him, which consists of respecting and honoring Him as He deserves, we will always be foolish, and as such, we will not receive any grace from God. So, are you living in submission to God and His will to obtain the salvation that only He can give you? Lord bless! John. God bless Israel!