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by a worker in the former Soviet Union
This article is Part One of a three-part series.
Central to our lives and our walk with the Lord is a paradox (an apparent contradiction): the principle of strength from weakness. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth (Matt. 5:5). If we want to experience the blessings of God, we must learn what it means to be meek, because the proud will inherit nothing.
According to the world and the flesh (human nature), the way to be stronger is to build ourselves up, to seek power and to dominate others. Some Christians have accepted this idea as the truth and pursue prayers, methods and techniques so that they will be increased and empowered (be given more legal power and authority). They hope to capture more, gain more, be bigger and be better. Yet for all these efforts, they see little result and less fruit.
God, however, extends a different invitation to us: embrace weakness so that we may be made strong. This tactic is the secret to spiritual power: When I am weak, then I am strong (2 Cor. 12:10). This truth lies at the heart of spiritual warfare: strength comes not from strength but from weakness. Conversely, weakness comes not from weakness but from strength. This passage in James reveals why the weak are strong and the strong weak, and can be divided into four sections. In this issue we will look at Section One: God Resists the Proud and Section Two: God Gives Grace to the Humble.
GOD RESISTS THE PROUD
Like everyone else, Christians are full of many things: many thoughts, many words, many plans, many pursuits. To figure out which things are of the Spirit and which are of the flesh (human nature) is not possible, even with those things that we do in the name of Jesus. So often we find that despite our best efforts, despite the time and energy we devote to something, we see little or no progress. It seems as if something is obstructing (blocking) the way and hindering us. We assume that this block is from the enemy. We rebuke the devil and ask others to pray that the block would be removed.
The devil will certainly try to hinder us from doing things that glorify God, enlarge His kingdom or shine light in the darkness. But James makes it clear that there is Another who resists us, who watches what we do, stands against us, and keeps us from making progress. That Someone is the Lord Himself. The Lord opposes us, closes doors, and spoils our best-laid plans. Why? Because God resists the proud. God’s resistance to our pride is insurmountable (cannot be overcome).
How much of our lives do we spend wrestling with God instead of cooperating with Him? How much time and effort do we waste because we obstinately (stubbornly) push our own way forward? We readily blame the enemy or others or bad circumstances or poor timing for all manner of difficulties and trials. We fail to recognize that sometimes it is God Himself who opposes us.
God resists the proud. His opposition is a chasm (rift or gap) that cannot be bridged, a wall that cannot be scaled. He actively resists our every move and stymies (blocks) our every effort. If we treasure even the smallest bit of pride we are on the wrong side. But if we humble ourselves before God and others we are more than conquerors because God gives grace to the humble.
GOD GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE
The single condition for grace is humility. But what is grace? Grace is more than just a theological term used to describe how we are saved. Grace is the power of God at work in our lives to do what we cannot do in our own strength. When we have reached the end of ourselves, then grace takes over and does what we are unable to do. Firstly, what we cannot do is save ourselves. We trust in the grace of God, Jesus Christ, to save us. Then, grace will bring us through the gate and also bring us down the path. Grace gets us started in the right direction and goes along with us every step of the way.
It should be obvious that God will not give us grace while we are still proud. Why? Because He will allow no one to boast in His presence (1 Cor. 1:29). He desires that we be thoroughly emptied of ourselves. When we stop trying to do what we cannot do, this is the time when He begins to do what only He can. The problem is that we still think we can do so many things. We must learn that Jesus really meant what He said: ...apart from Me you can do nothing (John 15:5b). Nothing! But it is human nature (the flesh) to try and do it ourselves. This human nature prevents us from entering into grace. God cannot save those who are still trying to save themselves.
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