1 Peter 5:5: Likewise, You Who Are Younger, Be Subject To The Elders.

1 Peter 5:5
[5] 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.” (ESV)
 

The older one tends to get, the more likely they are to complain that the younger generation does not respect their elders. In this verse, the Apostle Peter is speaking of elders, being the spiritual leaders of the Church. However, those who are younger should be subject to all kinds of authority. They should respect people who are elders (older than they are), and especially those who are elders (spiritual leaders).

One of the challenges that churches have in all generations is raising the next generation with a proper respect for the elders of the church. This challenge starts with the parents. If the parents are not going to take seriously the job of raising their children to be subject to parental authority, there is not a very good chance that the children will learn proper respect for spiritual authority.

In Romans 1, the Apostle Paul gives a list of all the various sins that mankind has committed. These sins that are listed include all kinds of heinous and gross acts that we would be horrified to think attributed to ourselves. Interestingly, included in that terrible list is, "disobedient to parents (Romans 1:30)." Younger people showing respect is not a small thing in God's eyes.

Humility is something that people of every generation need to have in their actions toward one another. This will be a whole lot easier for adults if they learned humility as a child. Those who do not learn humility stay in their pride. What is God's response to the proud? He opposes them. That is not a position you want to be in. Grace is given to the humble.

How do you respond to authority in your life? With humility? How do you respond to the spiritual elders in your church? They can do you no good if you do not respect them. Humility is hard. The world does not value this quality. Ask God to help you be humble, so that you can receive his grace.