SUBMITTING TO OTHERS

IN the middle of verse 5 of 1 Peter chapter 5, the apostle draws to a conclusion his instruction to various groups in the church by a general word of exhortation to every member of the congregation. It is so apt and relevant!

Peter says, "Clothe yourselves with humility towards one another" (NIV). The Authorised Version of the Bible translates the words as follows - "All of you be subject to one another and be clothed with humility", and this reaches the very heart of what Peter is saying.

How needed this instruction is in every congregation. There is more trouble, difficulty, pain, division, unhappiness and unrest in the average fellowship because people will not be subject to one another, than perhaps anything else.

There is a fine balance to be achieved in our dealings with each other between pressing our opinions and concerns for the church, and our submitting to others in the church.

We all have a contribution to make to the life of the church. We have spiritual desires and needs which we long to have satisfied. We have visions of what could be done to better the life of the church. We may be able to see places where the church life is discriminating unfairly between different groups, and feel this ought to be corrected.

It is right and proper to voice these views and share these opinions. It is our ministry to seek improvement in and the correction of that which needs correcting. We are right to make our points as clearly and forcefully as we can, so all may appreciate and understand what we are getting at, though we should still do it with gentleness and kindness. But what do we do when our points are rejected? What do we do when we always seem to be the one who never seems to have our opinions accepted? How do we react when something we feel is so very important, is still treated with far less importance by others and change is delayed? What should be our reaction when die-hard tradition seems to be holding things back? Peter says, "Be subject one to each other with all humility".

In the end, even though our view is rejected, we must be ready to humbly submit to the other person and stand back and accept that we have our opinion rejected. This is what God would have us do as Peter expounds God's will here to us. This is clothing ourselves with humility towards one another.

Why is this the right and best way? Because it serves to maintain peace and harmony. But doesn't this mean that nothing will get done? No! Peter gives us such helpful illumination on this action of submitting.

Firstly, it is best because God resists us if we don't, because he resists the proud. But we will know blessing as we submit, because God gives grace to the humble. (v.5). There is a blessing and commendation from the Lord when we are humble before others. He gives grace; grace to accept the decision, grace to trust God for the outcome, grace to bless us in compensation. But if we press our point, believing in our rights, God will resist us and not bless us. We gain nothing by causing upset.

Secondly, submitting to each other is really submitting to God. "Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God" says the apostle, indicating that God is behind this discipline of submission, and it is really God that is holding back the getting of our way. It is hard for us to realise or appreciate this, but it is so. It is part of God's purpose in discipline for us, but also, in the end, God's purpose for the doing of his perfect work in us and in the church. When something is right by God's will, nothing or anyone will be able to prevent his will.

The fact is God has his time for our vision, if it is right and good and according to his purpose. His time for implementing it will be the right and best time. We may be sure God will exalt us in due time. (v.6). He will bring our concern into being, so we do not need to press or strive, and we will be uplifted. We can rest on his unfailing purpose.

Thirdly, in our anxiety and concern we do not need to be anxious or worried, because, as Peter tells us, we can cast our anxiety on him, and know he has everything in control. He wants us to do this, because he cares for us deeply. By doing this we know all will be well and we have peace, even though we may be worried by bad results from others failing to accept our concern or ideas.

Fourthly, what is true is that our subtle enemy Satan knows how to exploit our griefs and pains for his own ends. He is prowling (v.8), waiting to devour us and the fellowship by causing us to fight back and not submit with all humility. How much harm Satan does by fanning the flames of our discontent, our sense of injustice, our concerns for the church, and causing us to press our point to the point of division, rather than to submit to others whom we believe to be wrong. Peter says resist this temptation of Satan. See it as temptation. Resist it standing firm in the faith - firm in the faith that God is sovereign and fulfils all the counsel of his will.

Fifthly, Peter reminds us (v.9) that such suffering as we may have to endure through submitting ourselves to others and seeing our desires rejected or despised, is something all Christians go through and experience.

In the end clothing ourselves with humility to others is always the way of blessing. We are called to suffer for a little while (v.10), but it is for the purpose of fitting us for the eternal glory to which God has called us. God will restore us in his time. And in the meantime he will give strength. He will make us strong, firm and steadfast as we obey him in "clothing ourselves with humility towards one another".