James comes back to the topic of humility in chapter 4. We had previously discussed humility in chapter 1. Humility is a key to facing adversity with joy because humility is an important aspect of a relationship with God. Opposite humility is pride. We cannot approach God in pride. Pride puts us in opposition to God.
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6 (ESV)
So many of the troubles in this world and our lives stem from pride. Consider the following quote by Andrew Murray:
All wretchedness of which the world has been the scene, all its wars and bloodshed among the nations, all its selfishness and suffering, all its ambitions and jealousies, all its broken hearts and embittered lives, with all its daily unhappiness, have their origin in what this cursed, hellish pride, either our own, or that of others, has brought us. – Andrew Murray
Pride is basically too much belief in you. It is to have a higher view of yourself than what reality dictates. It goes two ways. It might be that you see yourself as accomplished and deserving. You see yourself as a good person because you have done all the good things God expects. As a result, you expect God to shower you with his favor. The other side of pride is to think you are so bad and so far gone that you are beyond redemption. You think that God can love every other person in this world and forgive them, but you are such a special case that he cannot forgive you.
Humility is having an accurate view of yourself in relationship to God and other people. It is to see yourself as God sees you. It is to recognize that the basis of your relationship with him begins and ends with him. I’m not good. I’m not bad. I’m loved. I’m forgiven. I’m accepted on the basis of what Jesus has done for me.
This is illustrated by the Cycles of Grief and Grace.
Cycle of Grief
The Cycle of Grief starts with our achievement and our activity. This is where we discover our identity. We are seen and human doings and not human beings. Think about how many people describe themselves. They describe themselves by sharing what they do. What they do becomes their identity.
Because our identity is based on what we do, it leads to drivenness. We seek to achieve. We believe that accomplishment will lead to acceptance.
This is called the cycle of grief because it will only lead to disappointment. We do, do, do. We work, work, work. But it is never enough. It is like being on a human treadmill. What happens when all our doings do not match our expectations or the expectations of others? What happens when we can no longer do what we do? What do we become? Where do we then find acceptance?
Cycle of Grace
Then there is the Cycle of Grace. This is totally different because it does not end, but begins with acceptance. We recognize God does not love us because of what we do. It is what he has done and continues to do. He created us. He sent Jesus to die on the cross for us. He sends us his Holy Spirit, which he pours out through Word and Sacrament. God is relentless and driven in his pursuit of you. He daily makes provision for each of us. He makes the sun rise. He gives us the ability to work and earn an income to provide for our families. He enables us to serve him and his mission. We recognize everything we have has been entrusted to us by him. It is not achieved by our drivenness, but our connectedness to him.
He loves us because of who we are. We find our identity in him. We are his children. A dad loves his child because that child is his own. As children, we do not choose our parents. It is the same way with God. We do not choose him. He has chosen us.
The last thing the cycle of grace does is lead to fruitfulness. This is abundance. This is to have the good things of God in your life like love, joy, and peace. If those things are missing in your life, consider if you are trying to ride the cycle of grief instead of the cycle of grace. Maybe it is time to get off the cycle of grief and take a ride on the cycle of grace.
Questions for Reflection
- Do you agree that much of the sin in this world stems from pride? Why or why not?
- What does humility look like in relationship to God? In relationship to others?
- Where do you see the cycle of grief at work in your life?
- Share your comments below.
Janet Baldwin says
I could use to reevaluate my motives when carrying out an assignment from God. Do I expect people to honor me for what God has given me the ability to do? I need to remember that it is God that gets the glory and every thing you do does not have to be appreciated by man.
Fly Kelly says
This is an AMAZING blog & I’m blessed to have found it. The two graphs explains SO much in the human condition. . . and will be using them in an upcoming seminar (referencing this site in the process).