Faith In Action
“But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’ Submit yourselves, then, to God.”
At our core, we like to control everything. It makes us feel safe. The opposite of control is submission, which is what the Bible calls us to do. Submission can be a very scary word to us. James says at the beginning of chapter four that if our actions are driven by a need to satisfy our own desires, it will lead us down the road of destruction. You can’t control everything, but you can grow closer to the One who does.
James reiterates this point with a verse that highlights a central theme in the New Testament. “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” It’s the epitome of pride to try to control everything. We are called to counteract our pride with humility. We can do this by knowing the true meaning of humility, which is freedom from pride and confidence in exactly how God made us — both in purpose and personality.
Are you having a hard time with humility? James tells us how to be humble. He writes, “Submit yourselves, then, to God.” When you submit to God, you are claiming that God is sovereign and that He will always work in your favor. Your act of submission shows God that you are willing to give everything to him. You are willing to give him all your worries, fears, and challenges. How do we submit? It happens when we say, “God, I cannot do this on my own. I need your help.” Hand over your thoughts and actions and see what great work he will do in you.
Reflection: What would it look like if you gave your whole day over to God? How would you worry less and rely on him more?