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1 Peter 5:5-7 – Is Humility A Solution to Worry?
Is Humility the Solution to Anxiety?
Is a solution to worry, humility? Is pride a cause of anxiety? Seeing how a text is structured can yield unexpected truths. Notice how 1 Peter 5:5-7 has sets of opposites presented in Step Parallelism:
STRUCTURE OF TEXT:
• A1 – HUMILITY TOWARDS ONE ANOTHER – And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another,
o B1 – SELF-EXALTATION – for God is opposed to the proud,
C1 – PERSONAL HUMILITY – but gives grace to the humble.
• A2 – HUMILITY TOWARDS GOD – Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God,
o B2 – DIVINE EXALTATION – that He may exalt you at the proper time,
C2 – PERSONAL ANXIETY – casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
ANALYSIS OF TEXT:
If this structure is correct and meaningful, each “step” is the opposite in some form:
• A1, A2 – Humility is the same in both but shown to different parties: humans are the opposite of God.
• B1,B2 – God is against pride which leads to self-exaltation; while God will exalt in His time.
• C1,C2 – This is where an unexpected lesson is found. If this segment is filled with opposites, then humility is opposed to anxiety.
PRACTICAL LESSON FROM STRUCTURE:
Worry is a divided mind (literally) while humility is lowliness of mind by fully trusting God. If we are feeling overwhelmed and unable to control life’s events (including suffering), then we need to realize such is a prideful attempt – Jesus suffered but didn’t “worry”. He prayed.
Therefore, if we are feeling anxiety or worry, the solution is humility. Humility is giving up the prideful belief that we can control what is happening and who is causing our difficulties. Humility is giving up the belief of, “Why me?”.
Instead, stay faithful which requires humility.
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