“Humble Yourselves Before the Lord"

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” (James 4:10 ESV)

In chapter 4, James writes of our debauchery. He talks of everything: adultery, murder, and all types of sin. James uses the phrase “Your passions are at war within you.” There was never a more accurate statement. We struggle with our war against sin every day. We must kill it. We must kill our sin with the righteousness of Christ because it is only through Him that sin and death were defeated.

Many wonder why prayers go unanswered. Perhaps one should examine what they are praying for. James wrote, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.”(v 4:3) Is it a new car, a house, a handsome man, or a beautiful woman you pray for, or is it prayers glorifying God for what He gives you every day? Are they prayers of repentance when one loses their way? It is these prayers that God receives well.

God owes us nothing. To truly humble ourselves, we must recognize our own pride and understand what genuine humility looks like. James continues, writing, “Therefore it says, God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”(v 4:6-8) Our righteous and holy God cannot join with the sinful. He cannot be in the presence of sin. James is correct. If you want God to draw closer to you, humble yourself before Him by examining your heart and repenting of pride. It is by His grace that you have what you have and are; without Him, you are nothing.

God sees “a broken and contrite heart “ (Psalm 51:17), the heart that mourns over its sin, the one whom the Spirit convicts and weeps over at their rebellion, will not be despised. “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” He will exalt you.

We assume too much. We have confidence, often it is misplaced. We tend to place confidence in ourselves when it should be in our God. I am going to do this, or I am going to do that, leads one down a path of boasting and pride. James reminds us that what we should be thinking and saying is, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” Otherwise, it is our arrogance that boasts.

No one likes an arrogant person, and we ourselves are arrogant; how much more does God despise the arrogant, boastful, and proud? When we are made aware of scripture and its meaning, we are responsible for it and to God. Meaning, if you know it is a sin and do it anyway, you are responsible for the consequences. But in our repentance, even our willful rebellion in sin is forgiven by the blood of Christ. What ending do you want for your life: living for yourself and dying for eternity, or living for Christ and living an eternity?

Everlasting life comes only through faith in the risen Son of God, Jesus Christ. Yes, praying for His grace, asking for salvation, repenting of your sins, and accepting Christ as your Lord and Savior is straightforward. Is it that easy? Absolutely. But do you trust in your own strength or in His grace?

Are you willing to risk your eternity on your ego? Seek Christ.

Grace and Peace.