Leadership That God Lifts Up

Reflections on 1 Peter 5:5, Proverbs 3:34, and Level 5 Leadership

“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, quoting Proverbs 3:34)

Few virtues are more frequently affirmed in Scripture—and more quietly neglected in leadership—than humility. For pastors and church leaders, humility is not an optional personality trait or a leadership style preference. It is a spiritual posture, a theological conviction, and a daily discipline. Peter’s exhortation in 1 Peter 5:5 is not merely advice for healthy relationships; it is a warning and a promise. God actively resists pride, but He actively supplies grace to the humble.

That truth alone should arrest us. The issue is not simply whether humility improves our leadership effectiveness, but whether our leadership posture invites God’s grace or provokes His opposition.

Humility as a Garment, Not a Mood

Peter’s language is striking: “clothe yourselves” with humility. The phrase implies intentionality and visibility. Humility is not something leaders merely feel internally; it is something they put on and wear publicly. Like a garment, humility shapes how others experience us—how we listen, how we respond to criticism, how we share credit, and how we wield authority.

For pastors, humility is especially tested by influence. Ministry platforms, growing attendance, public affirmation, and perceived spiritual authority can subtly reinforce the lie that effectiveness equals importance. Pride rarely announces itself with arrogance; more often it arrives as self-reliance, defensiveness, or the quiet assumption that “this church depends on me.”

Peter reminds leaders that humility is not weakness—it is alignment. To lead humbly is to lead in sync with how God operates in the world. Humility demonstrates the character of Jesus.

God’s Posture Toward Pride and Humility

Peter grounds his command in Proverbs 3:34: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” This is more than a moral principle; it reveals God’s active stance. Pride places a leader in opposition to God Himself. Grace, on the other hand, flows toward humility like water downhill.

This has sobering implications for church leadership. A pastor may be gifted, visionary, and hardworking—and still find ministry increasingly heavy, strained, or fruitless if pride has taken root. Grace is not earned by effort; it is received through humility. Leaders do not sustain ministry by strength alone, but by dependence on God.

Humility keeps leaders teachable, repentant, and prayerful. Pride makes leaders brittle, isolated, and resistant to correction.

Level 5 Leadership and Biblical Humility

Interestingly, this biblical vision of humility finds a strong parallel in Jim Collins’ research on exceptional leadership. In Good to Great, Collins identifies “Level 5 Leaders” as those who combine fierce resolve with genuine humility. These leaders are deeply ambitious—but not for themselves. Their ambition is directed toward the mission, the organization, and long-term impact beyond their tenure.

Level 5 leaders deflect praise and accept responsibility for failure. They build institutions that thrive after they are gone. They are confident without being self-promoting, decisive without being domineering. Collins notes that these leaders are often understated, even uncomfortable in the spotlight.

For pastors, this connection is profound. Biblical humility does not diminish leadership authority; it purifies it. The humble pastor leads with conviction while acknowledging dependence on God and others. Like John the Baptist, they say in practice if not in words, “He must increase, I must decrease” (John 3:30).

Humility allows leaders to celebrate others’ gifts, invite accountability, and plan for succession rather than control. It frees pastors from the exhausting burden of self-preservation.

The Hidden Battle of the Heart

Humility is rarely lost all at once. It erodes slowly through comparison, fear, and the need to be seen as successful. Pastors are particularly vulnerable because ministry success is often measured publicly, while the heart is shaped privately.

That is why Peter’s command is communal: “toward one another.” Humility shows up in how leaders treat staff, elders, volunteers, and congregants. It is revealed in whether we listen more than we speak, confess when we are wrong, and invite others into decision-making.

Ultimately, as noted by C.S. Lewis, “humility is not thinking less of yourself—it is thinking of yourself less,” while thinking more of God. The humble leaders invite others into relationship to help cultivate this spiritual posture. This includes intentional relationships within a church, between churches with other leaders, and within an association like Converge.

Three Questions for Self-Assessment

To guard against pride and cultivate humility, every leader—pastor or otherwise—can regularly ask themselves these questions:

1. How do I respond when my leadership is questioned or my ideas are challenged?
   Defensiveness often reveals pride; curiosity and reflection reveal humility.

2. Where do I seek affirmation: from God’s calling or from people’s applause?
   The source of our security often exposes the direction of our pride.

3. Am I building something that depends on me—or something that points beyond me?
   Humble leadership leaves room for others to lead and for God to receive the glory.

Peter’s exhortation remains as relevant today as ever. In a world that rewards self-promotion, pastors are called to wear a different garment. Humility is not only the way of Christ—it is the path where grace flows most freely, and where God delights to lift up those who kneel before Him.