Grace is an interesting word. It is a noun or it could be someone’s name. It is a term that conveys with it a relaxed posture. Grace goes hand in hand with mercy. What does grace mean in the bible? It means good will and favor from God. We might wish someone grace on their journey. Or someone might say “you have graced us with your presence.” Before dinner someone might be asked to say grace as the name of a prayer of thanksgiving for the food. In the book of James, he writes that God give greater grace to those who are humble. God give more favor and more good will to those who are humble. Or in modern days we might say that God makes those who are humble toward him blessed.

Grace is a Common Church Topic

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6 ESV

James chapter 4 the intro reads like a list of slogans to live by or since James is a book of wisdom it would make sense that he is quoting proverbs that are known to his audience. Peter uses the exact same phrase in one of his letters.

Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5 ESV

James was the head of the church in Jerusalem, and one might imagine since Peter is using the same phrase that God’s grace is a topic much discussed in the church at that time. The phrase is sourced from Proverbs 3:24.

Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways, 32 for the devious person is an abomination to the Lord, but the upright are in his confidence. 33 The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous. 34 Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor. 35 The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace. Proverbs 3:31-35 ESV

Pride is Opposition to God

James and Peter use the word proud to describe those who God gives no grace or favor. But the proverb uses the word scorners and fools. Scorners and fools are people who talk too much in ways that are proud, demeaning, and sarcastic. They think they are something but do not realize that they should be quiet about things they do not know. Proverbs says that God scorns the scorner. He will mock the mocker and he shows them no grace, favor, or good will. In other words, they will not be blessed. And in fact the scorner seems to be the most miserable of all people one can meet. They may be successful in the world, but they are never happy and only miserable.

Humility Leads to Grace

If God mocks the mocker then what God loves are those who are humble and to the humble flow grace and good will. If you want God’s favor, then humility toward him is the place to start. Peter elaborates in his letter.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, ⁷ casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7 ESV

Dear reader you can take your cares to God because God cares for you. When you come to him for your daily bread you are submitting your need to him because you know he cares for you.

So what does humble mean in this context then? The word used means lowly and low to the ground. We bow before the King and make ourselves as nothing before God. Not just in a physical sense does one bow but in the mind and spirit. We yield our hearts to the Maker of heaven and earth because he cares for us. God favors the person who approaches him in reverence.

Grace Example

There is an Old Testament illustration of God’s grace and opposition in real time with Moses. The Bible says that Moses was the humblest man on the face of the planet. So this means that he has God’s favor and more grace. One might even make the argument that he has more grace that anyone on the planet at that time.

³ Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth. ⁴ And suddenly the Lord said to Moses and to Aaron and Miriam, “Come out, you three, to the tent of meeting.” And the three of them came out. ⁵ And the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the tent and called Aaron and Miriam, and they both came forward. ⁶ And he said, “Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the Lord make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream. ⁷ Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house. ⁸ With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” ⁹ And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them, and he departed. Numbers 12:3-9 ESV

Look at the favor and grace Moses receives due to his meekness before God. God tells the people that he speaks to Moses directly in plain words. This is more than the greatest prophets who hear from God in dreams that must be interpreted. Also notice at the end of this event that those proud individuals who were challenging Moses because of the favor he had from God are directly opposed by God. “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

In real time we see God’s favor, grace, on Moses and we see God oppose those proud scoffers who sought to challenge Moses. Dear reader, do you want grace through humility or opposition through pride. If you want “more grace” it flows from God when we humble ourselves before him and bring our needs to him.