Moving Toward Each Other in the Middle of a Divisive WorldSample

How To Stay Humble in the Midst of Conflict

Although some people root for a different NFL team than I do, vote differently on ballots than I do, and love different music than I do, I don’t consider anyone my enemy. People who cut me off in traffic, those who easily find jeans that fit, and those who have spotless homes are not my enemies either…but I do pray for them.

Isn’t it true that we often vilify those who are not our true adversaries? The solution is found in one simple word: humility. Rick Warren defines this solution in this way: “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.”

First Peter 5:5 resonates with me because, despite my desire to be humble, it’s a daily struggle for me to seek more of God and less of myself. Although challenging, this verse offers hope and guidance in three areas: community, clothing, and character.

The phrase “clothe yourselves with humility toward one another” is intriguing because “yourselves” is nestled between “all of you” and “toward one another.” It doesn’t say “clothe one another.” It emphasizes our personal responsibility to choose humility daily, especially in our interactions with fellow believers.

The final part of the verse, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble,” quotes Proverbs 3:34. This demonstrates God’s seriousness about humility, not because He is unfair or needy, but because humility benefits us. This proverb is also referenced in another New Testament verse, highlighting its importance.

God grants us grace when we humble ourselves, but pride stands in opposition to who God is (James 4:6). Pride is an enemy of God. I do not want my actions, feelings, and thoughts to oppose the One who knows me fully, loves me completely, and died for me sacrificially.

ACTION STEP

Where do you struggle most with humility?

Some “hacks” to clothing ourselves with humility as 1 Peter 5:5 instructs us to do:

1. Prayer.
2. Time in God’s Word.
3. When in a tough conversation with another, use phrases like: “Help me to understand,” or, “Tell me more,” or, “How did you come to that?” or even, “Hmmm. You may right.”
4. When you feel defensive, remind yourself of the truth of God’s Word and your true identity.
5. When you do speak, work to speak to others, not past them.
6. Remember that it is impossible to win an argument in the Body of Christ.