After exhorting the elders to fulfill their God-given ministry in the churches to which the Lord called them (1Pe 5:1-4), Peter turns his attention to the responsibility of the people who make up those churches. He writes “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders” (5:5a). Whether the elders are the pastors of the churches, or older people in the congregation, Peter goes on to urge all of us to be clothed with humility toward one another (5:5b). In humble submission we must esteem others better that ourselves putting the needs and interests of our brothers and sisters in Christ ahead of our own (see Phi 2:3-4). The motivation to humble ourselves is the fact, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (5:5c).
Not only should we humble ourselves before each other, but we must humble ourselves before God (5:6-7). God is mighty and will exalt the humble in due time. In this life those who humble themselves and serve are often viewed as insignificant. But in the next life it is the humble servant who will be exalted. Jesus said, “Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:4).
“But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 “And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted (Matthew 23:11-12).
In humbling ourselves before God, we recognize His greatness and our weakness. There are many things that concern us in this life about which we are tempted to worry. In our humility we come to understand we are unable to handle all our cares. God invites us to cast them all on Him! We can do that with confidence
