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“But he gives a greater grace. Therefore, it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6) As we read the word of God, we can see that God has given “greater grace” as his precious son paid the ultimate price for every person in the world. A “wow” is what we think of knowing the vast love God has for all of humankind.

As we continue to evaluate the “the word,” we see that grace is given to the humble. Many times, being humble can be misinterpreted as fragility or lacking strength. The world operates on the concept of the squeaky wheel. I am sure you have heard the saying, the wheel that squeaks the loudest gets attention.

As if somehow, it is more deserving of service than another which needs repair. That is how the world operates, doesn’t it? The world turns its attention to the things that seem to be the loudest. Even within the world arena of who slapped who, who abused who or who married and remarried who – people gravitate to the loudest.

To be humble takes much strength. We see strength in people who humble themselves through the way they live. For example, a person is being spoken to as if they are less than (in a very loud manner or on display for all to see). Instead of rising and retaliating, they make a choice to return the unkindness with goodness. That takes strength.

I do not know about you, but there are times when my feathers can get ruffled — when I am treated like I am stupid or as if I am not good enough. I think we can all say we would like to be treated with respect. However, life just does not work that way. As a Christ follower our response to the world matters.

God does not make us be humble, but he does give us the grace we need to operate in humbleness. A Christ follower is faced with opposition every single day. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

It is up to us to follow God’s example. The word says that Jesus came that we may have life and have it to the full. In fact, so full that our life can overflow. When we operate in that overflow, that is the “greater grace.” This is Jesus!

As a Christ follower: Lord, we thank you for “greater grace” there is absolutely no one or anything that is more than you. We thank you that you have equipped us to be humble even when we are challenged in the loudest ways. 

Yvette Perrin can be reached at theword2yvette@gmail.com.