The Greek verb is a rare and curious one. It means properly “tie yourselves up in humility.” Humility is to be gathered round about us like a cloak and tied up so that the wind may not blow it back, nor the rain beat inside it. But there is a still further and more delicate shade of meaning in the word. There was a peculiar kind of cape, well-known by a name taken from this verb (we might call it a “tie up”), and this kind of cape was worn by slaves, and no others. It was a badge of servitude. Thus, Peter bids them all gird themselves for one another in a slaves “tie-up” of humility. None are to be master in the Church of Christ, and their humility is to be the very first thing noticed about them.
“Serving the Lord with all humility of mind”, “I am the least of the apostles”, “Less than the least of all saints”, “Not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think”, and “Though I be nothing”. The more he knew of himself and of his Lord, the more Paul humbled himself; likewise, the lower we lie before God, the happier and holier we shall be. Man’s pride and misery is that he must be something, but the Christian is willing to become nothing that Christ may be all in all. If we continue empty, He will fill us. Let us beware of thinking that we deserve more than we receive, either from God or men.
God has no respect toward them who are proud but condescends to walk with the humble. Of ourselves, we have nothing to be proud about or to boast of. All that we can admire and boast of is the loving mercy and infinite compassion of God in saving such vile, unworthy sinners. The continuing influence of the gentle Christ puzzled proud Napoleon in the loneliness of his exile. “Tell me, Bertrand, how it is that while I dwell alone and friendless on this barren rock, the dead hand of the Nazarene Carpenter can reach down the centuries and draw millions to follow Him?” Napoleon’s friend replied, “The Nazarene Carpenter lived for others — Napoleon lived for himself.”
Someone protested to General William Booth that self-preservation was the first law of nature. “Yes,” was the old General’s retort, “but the first law of grace is self-sacrifice.” It was because of His gentle heart that Jesus could not save Himself.
The most outstanding personification of humility the world has ever seen is the Lord Jesus Christ who, without any uncertainty whatsoever, could say of Himself, “I am meek and lowly in heart”. Christ lived what He preached and urged others to accept this virtue from Him. In all His ways, He rebuked “the pride of life,’’because pride is a sin God abominates.
Paul came to reflect his Master’s humility in these words:
“Be not high minded, but fear” Romans 11:20. This heart-appeal of Paul forms a fitting conclusion. The more we realize what deep debtors we are to the free, sovereign, and distinguished grace of God, the less tendency we shall have of thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought, and the more willing we will be to wear this garment of humility.