“But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:
“God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”
James 4:6
It has been said, “God gives what He demands.” Always for the believer there is greater… and greater grace. This is what the above verse is reminding the reader (us) of. This simple verse is one of the most comforting for the follower of Jesus to grasp tightly.
This verse means there will always be enough grace regardless of our situation or need– always. Just prior to James is the Letter to the Hebrews. It is in Hebrews 4:16 that the writer tells us to “approach the throne of grace with fullest confidence, that we may receive mercy for our failures and grace to help in our hour of need” (Phillips). We have no need whatsoever, which outstrips grace… never will we! The Bible assures us of this fact in Romans 5:20 (again from the Philipps), “though sin is shown to be wide and deep, thank God his grace is wider and deeper still!” I came across an anonymous quote regarding this “For daily need there is daily grace; for sudden need, sudden grace: for overwhelming need, overwhelming grace.” In his need for great grace, John Newton wrote the lyrics we love so much—
“Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come:
‘Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.”
Consider the following incident– An artist once submitted a painting of Niagara Falls for an exhibition. The painting lacked a title. The gallery, faced with the need of a title came up with these words: “more to follow!” What a great illustration. The Apostle John references such extravagance when he writes “of His fulness we have all received, and grace for grace” (John 1:16). One version translates this as “one grace heaped upon another.” Now, that is great grace!”
Enjoy, delight, value the great grace of God. But beware of pride. It is absolute truth that God “gives more grace”… “one grace upon another.” But it is also true that “God resists the proud.” Let our confidence be in our God, and we be a humble people. From Psalm 34–
My soul shall make its boast in the LORD;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
“God can turn cunning, crafty people into simple, guileless people. The marvel of His grace is such that He can take out the strands of evil and twistedness from a person’s mind and imagination, and make him single-minded and simple towards God so that his life becomes radiantly beautiful by the miracle of His grace.” Oswald Chambers
Maranatha!