Pilgrim Living: Humbly Serve One Another! I Peter 5:1-7

Pilgrim Living in a Fallen World: Humbly Serve One Another!

I Peter 5:1-7

Introduction:  Our last study in I Peter (in early November!) was entitled  “Joy in the Hot Seat!” That perspective can only be explained by a sure hope that goes beyond this world. We can only live as a pilgrim in a fallen world if our hope is to be with God and to enjoy Him forever.  Humanity has a problem: SIN. That means separation from God. But God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself.  If you believe that, if your trust is in Him,  you face suffering and trials differently than those who have no hope. You have a “peace that passes understanding.” Our peace “passes understanding” because it makes no sense to the world, to those who don’t share our hope. They want peace, they want hope, but they don’t have it. The point Peter made was that our response to suffering can bring God glory, and it can draw others to Him.  Peter talks a lot about our “way of life” being a key part of our witness. Can a “servant attitude” also point others to Him? We also see implicitly in these verses the idea that GOD is the Lord of the church.  He is the Architect and Designer. We are reminded that the church is not optional, it is expressed in orderly local assemblies committed to the authority of the Word, desiring the glory of God, and focused on carrying out His mission in the world. We’ve been reminded that we are here on assignment!

The Maine* Idea: Living faithfully as pilgrims in a fallen world means not thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought, but rather following Jesus’ example of selfless service.

Context: Christians can have joy even when we suffer (review 4:12-19). “…Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good…” (4:19). We can trust God in the midst of suffering. Remember Peter has been writing to believers throughout Asia Minor, during a time of persecution. He has reminded his readers that they are pilgrims, exiles, foreigners in this fallen world. Their citizenship is in heaven. As Jesus had warned his disciples in the upper room (John 16:33) Peter is urging the church not to be surprised by suffering. Jesus suffered, the world hated him, it will turn on his people as well.

I. Jesus’ suffering should motivate us to serve with humility (5:1-4).

“So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed:  ² shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly;  ³ not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.  ⁴ And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”

       These first verses are directed at “elders,” those who have been entrusted with shepherding and leadership of the church.  So leaders need to listen carefully to these verses, as do the people they lead—because we need to hold leaders accountable from a biblical perspective. Notice that Peter, the apostle, the one who was recognized as perhaps the primary apostle and leader of the Jerusalem church, exhorts the leaders among the scattered churches of Asia minor first from a position of humility, “…as a fellow elder…” He could have immediately appealed to his authority as an apostle, but he begins by identifying with the leaders in the scattered churches. He is calling for humility and he is modeling it as well.  Part of that humility no doubt came from Peter’s experience. Recall that scene in John 21, after the resurrection, as Jesus is restoring and calling Peter…

¹⁵ When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs."  ¹⁶ He said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep."  ¹⁷ He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.” (John 21:15-17).

The Lord had specifically and personally called Peter to shepherd the flock, which implies, leading, protecting, and feeding God’s people. Now, as a fellow elder, he encourages the leaders of the scattered churches to stay faithful in that same calling. Remember Jesus is the Good Shepherd, the Chief Shepherd. Pastors and elders are his under-shepherds, entrusted with responsibility to lead and shepherd a small group of people.  I am thankful for the team of dedicated and faithful men God has raised up in our church for such a time as this!

       Notice the positive admonition in verse 3, “…being examples of the flock…” Shepherd of God’s flock are not to “lord it over” the flock, but to prove to be an example. There was an army recruitment poster during WW II that illustrated the idea. It pictured a young corporal, in the heat of combat moving ahead, his rifle in his left hand pointing forward, looking back over his right shoulder giving a “come on ahead” motion as he shouts “Follow me!” Back around that time Eisenhower would demonstrate the art of leadership with a simple piece of string. He’d put it on the table and say, “Pull it and it will follow you wherever you wish. Push it and it will go nowhere at all. It’s just that way when it comes to leading people. They need to follow a person who is leading by example.” At another time he said, “You do not lead by hitting people over the head—that is assault, not leadership!”

       Peter is calling the “elders,” the spiritual leaders in the local body, to servant-leadership, to lead by example. Like the corporal charging the enemy, he is saying “follow me into the battle!” Because of our fallen state, because we are still affected by sin, we in leadership can easily get prideful, and controlling.  The church isn’t designed, I don’t believe, to be a pure democracy,  nor is a dictator-ship. In truth it is a “theocracy” in that God is in church, Jesus is the head of the church.  And so there should be humility in leadership, not love of power or love of money, but love of God and love for His people.  Peter starts these verses talking to the elders, but he soon extends the principle to “all” the church. Living faithfully as pilgrims in a fallen world means not thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought, but rather following Jesus’ example of selfless service.

II. Younger men, indeed all believers, need to humbly recognize their dependence on Christ and have a heart to serve (5).

“Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

       It is very clear that “elders” referred to the “office” by the reference to shepherding and overseeing.  But the fact is that “elders” were probably, very often, older men. It’s not as clear who these “young men” who are referred to are. We do have a couple of biblical examples, as in Acts 5 and the story of Ananias and Sapphira, were the text refers to the “young men” who were at the door and carried away the couple, one at a time, when they fell dead (Acts 5:6,10). It may be that it was referring to something like “deacons” or other servant-leaders in the church.  It may be that Peter singles out “young men” simply because they are more likely to charge ahead on their own without stopping to listen to some of the “gray haired wisdom” that the elders could offer. The exhortation to the elders was to lead by example, and the admonition to the younger men is to respect their authority and leadership. 

       Peter said “…clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another…” The word here has the idea of a servant putting on an apron as he sets to work. There is intentionality, purposefulness, in adopting a humble attitude.  Augustine had some quotable insights. He spoke of both the importance of humility, and of the difficulty humans have in practicing it. Of its importance he said, “It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.” With respect to its difficulty he said, “There is something in humility that strangely exalts the heart.” We start to get proud of how humble we are!  Was it Harry Ironside who told the story of putting on a sandwich board, and walking the streets of Philadelphia calling people to repent?  He confessed thinking, when he got back to his room that afternoon, “I am really something, who else would do such a humble thing?” Mark Twain put it this way, “Humility is like a watermelon seed, just when you think you have it under your thumb, it slips away!” Here Peter talks to younger men, but none of us is immune to getting a “puffed up” view of ourselves. I like the story Chan Gailey, who just retired from coaching a couple of weeks ago, told on himself when he was coach of the Buffalo Bills. Years earlier when he was coaching at Troy State University, he was only thirty-two years old...

...In 1984, with a 12-1 record, he led the Troy State Trojans to a Division II NCAA national championship. A week before the big game, he was headed to the practice field when a secretary called him back to take a phone call. Somewhat irritated, Gailey told her to take a message because he was on his way to practice.  She responded, "But it's Sports Illustrated."   "I'll be right there," he said. 

       As he made his way to the building, he began to think about the upcoming article. It would be great publicity for a small school like Troy State to be in Sports Illustrated. As he got closer, he realized that a three-page article would not be sufficient to tell the whole story. Coming even closer to his office, he started thinking that he might be on the cover. "Should I pose or go with an action shot," he wondered. His head was spinning with all of the possibilities. 

       When he picked up the phone and said hello, the person asked, "Is this Chan Gailey?"   "Yes, it is," he replied confidently.   "This is Sports Illustrated, and we're calling to let you know that your subscription is running out. Are you interested in renewing?" (Chan Gailey speaking at a dinner in Dalton, Georgia, 4-20-04) 

The fact that he told that story on himself shows he probably learned some humility in the process!  Andrew Murray had a great perspective on humility...

“Humility is perfect quietness of heart. It is to expect nothing, to wonder at nothing that is done to me, to feel nothing done against me. It is to be at rest when nobody praises me, and when I am blamed or despised. It is to have a blessed home in the Lord, where I can go in and shut the door, and kneel to my Father in secret, and am at peace as in a deep sea of calmness, when all around and above is trouble… The humble person is not one who thinks meanly of himself, he simply does not think of himself at all.”

Our model, back in I Peter 5:1, is Christ.  He suffered, willingly, for us. As Paul said to the Philippians…

³ Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  ⁴ Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.  ⁵ Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,  ⁶ who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,  ⁷ but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form,  ⁸ he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross… (Philippians 2:3-8).

The mind of Christ means thinking of others, having a humble, servant attitude. And that is the thinking that God blesses, for “God opposes the proud, and gives grace to the humble...”  There is a parallel passage in James,

⁶ But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."  ⁷ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you [that idea will come up in the next verses in I Peter].  ⁸ Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  ⁹ Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.  ¹⁰ Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you... (James 4:6-10).

That final phrase is at the heart of a pilgrim’s hope. It reflects our assurance that Jesus is Lord, and the day will come when He assumes the throne and every knee bows before Him and every tongue confesses his Lordship.  With Him, those who are His, will ultimately be vindicated. Because we believe that, we can live faithfully as pilgrims in a fallen world, not thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought, and following Jesus’ example of selfless service.

III. All who would follow Jesus should submit to His Lordship trusting in His care and ultimate deliverance (6,7).

“⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,  ⁷ casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

       What does it mean to “humble yourselves... under the mighty hand of God”? It must mean that we recognize our weakness, our smallness, and we submit willingly to His lordship in our lives.  He is Lord of the Universe, the Creator and Sustainer of it all, and yet humans resist Him! Every time we sin we are choosing our will over His. Pilgrims recognize who is in charge and submit to His authority. In I Peter we’ve seen quite a bit about submitting to the authorities God has allowed to be over us, in government, at work, God’s order in the family. Here he talks about order in the church. But our ultimate submission is to God himself.

       The last phrase in v.7 is a beautiful picture, “...casting all your anxieties on him, because He cares for you.” Why should I be discouraged? Why should you bear your burdens alone? Jesus said, “Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest...” The invitation here is open: cast some of your anxieties on Jesus... no, cast all your anxieties on him, why? ...Because He cares for you.  We can trust him to take care of us, we can focus on being available to be used by him to serve others.

What is God saying to me in this passage? Living faithfully as pilgrims in a fallen world means not thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought, and following Jesus’ example of selfless service.

What would God have me to do in response to this passage? As we serve others, and think less of ourselves, people will begin to notice. Remember, we are witnesses everyday.  Whether or not we say anything about our faith today someone close to us is watching. Someone in your oikos and someone in mine is observing how we conduct ourselves.  Are we giving or self-serving? Are we prideful or humble?  Praying consistently for God to work in the lives of the people HE has put in our lives is foundational.  It changes us, and amazingly, God works through the prayers of His people!  We can mention to our friends that we pray for them. When we have opportunity we can ask, “How are you doing spiritually? How can I be praying for you?”  People may not take you up on it immediately, but in a time of crisis they just might call.  Keep looking up, and let’s put on our “servant-aprons” and stay faithful!              AMEN.