"Redundant Systems"

1st Peter 5.5b-7 NIV

“All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

The theme of humility appears everywhere in Scripture. James echoes Peter’s warning:

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble...
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”
James 4.6, 10

The humility theme is more than just a little redundant in the Bible. Both Peter and James quote Solomon who first recorded the saying nearly 1,000 years before Christ...

“He mocks proud mockers but give grace to the humble.”
“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”
Solomon, Proverbs 3.34; 16.18

And Solomon was alluding to his father David’s teaching...
 

“Though the Lord is on high, he looks upon the lowly,
but the proud he knows from afar.”

David, Psalm 138.6

Redundancy is a systems precautionary measure. Modern gas valves, scuba tanks, and parachutes all use redundant systems. No one wants to blow up, run out of air, or fall to their death. Redundancies are introduced to insure the user’s safety in the event of an early first system failure.

Perhaps God is redundant on the “humility” theme for a good reason. He knows how cocky we can be after a little success. Often, and for no good reason, I fail to be humble. I must take extra precautions and make special note of the redundant instructions found throughout the Divine User’s Manual…

“Pride goes before… a fall.”
“Clothe yourselves with humility.”
“Humble yourselves… under God’s mighty hand.”
“God gives grace to the humble.”