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

But he gives more grace. The pronoun “he” refers to God. The previous verses had just spoken about the feuds and struggles among them that rose from conflicting passions within themselves. They were jealous and envious of what others had, and they did not possess, which made them exasperated, frustrated, struggling, and fighting with others, seeking to satisfy their own desires by forming friendships with Satan’s world. Yes, these ones were struggling in their human imperfection, being that they are born mentally bent toward evil, possessing a treacherous heart, and having the natural desire to do bad. Thus, God knows these things, and so he has made allowances for human imperfection. And he also realizes that not everyone was acting on their fleshly desires, restraining these passions, and suppressing these carnal tendencies. God is showing mercy and giving grace to these ones. Any who showed an ounce of humility, ‘God gives more grace.’

God opposes the proud. The proud (ὑπερήφανος huperēphanos) are those who have feelings of unwarranted importance out of overbearing pride, arrogance, irrational conceit of their own merit or importance. This could be the case in any number of areas, such as beauty, strength, accomplishments, station in life, family, country, etc. In God’s plan of salvation, he opposes all pride.

But gives grace to the humble. Humble: (עָנִי ani ταπεινός tapeinos) refers to a modest, unassuming, and straightforward person, who lacks arrogance, hubris, or pride (Prov. 3:34; Zech. 9:9) This is one who has been afflicted by Satan’s world, the victim of suffering pain, injury, or harm physically or emotionally. Thus, God shows them favor; he confers upon them the grace lacking to secure salvation. He does so because he knows they deeply desire his favor, and they want his guidance and instruction given the opportunity. They also have a receptive mind. It is impossible to teach a closed heart of one who is beyond repentance. It is impossible to reason with the unreasonable (not guided by or based on good sense), to be rational with the irrational (lacking logic and not endowed with the power of reason). And it is impossible to teach one who is all-wise in his own mind, supposing he already knows everything. You cannot confer grace on these ones, who have no idea that they need it. The path to salvation is paved only with humble hearts.

Although humans are living in imperfection, being mentally bent toward evil, and possess such harmful behaviors as envy, we are not abandoned in a difficult position without help. Yes, God’s grace is far greater but should never be taken as an excuse for badness. God makes allowances for our imperfections. God “is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. He will not always find fault, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repaid us according to our errors.”[1] (Psa. 103:8-10) King David goes on to write, “As far as the east is from the west, so far, has He removed our transgressions from us.” (Psa. 103:12) Plainly, the distance from the East to the West is the greatest distance something can be removed. Isaiah says God has “thrown all my sins behind your back.” (Isa. 38:17) The sense is that if our sins are behind God’s back, he can no longer see them and will call them to mind no more. Micah says God “will hurl all their sins in the depths of the sea.” In those days, whatever is thrown into the sea will never be recovered. All of the above is based on how we deal with our inherited sin. If we were unrepentant, it would not apply. If we were not working toward getting our envious spirit under control, it would not apply. If we use Spirit-inspired Scripture in our lives in a correct and balanced manner, the above will apply. The apostle Paul tells us, “walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” – Galatians 5:16.

If our envy has moved us to seek out persons in the world, who are influential and prominent, hoping that their success will become our success, we will be making ourselves a friend of the world. We need to give of ourselves entirely, knowing that God’s grace is abundantly available to help us conquer the world. That is, we should humbly walk with God and his people, as any perceived losses that we have suffered due to the faith will never be missed upon Christ’s return.

“God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble,” is a quote from a Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament (c. 280-150 B.C.E.), known as the Septuagint. It is a translation of Proverbs 3:34. The humble one will seek God, looking for help through prayer, as well as acting on behalf of that prayer. In other words, he will apply God’s inspired Word and seek counseling from the pastor if necessary. Whatever is needed in order to overcome an envious spirit, he will do with the help of God and God’s people. Proverbs 3:34 says in part, “But to the humble he gives favor: Humble,” referring to a modest, unassuming, and straightforward person who lacks arrogance, hubris, or pride. (Zech. 9:9) This one has been afflicted by Satan’s world, the victim of suffering pain, injury, or harm physically or emotionally. The apostle Peter tells us, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” – 1 Peter 5:5.

[1] Error: (עָווֹן avon) The Hebrew word avon essentially relates to erring, acting illegally or wrongly. This aspect of sin refers to committing a perverseness, wrongness, lawlessness, law breaking, which can also include the rejection of the sovereignty of God. It also focuses on the liability or guilt of one’s wicked, wrongful act. This error may be deliberate or accidental; either willful deviation of what is right or unknowingly making a mistake. (Lev. 4:13-35; 5:1-6, 14-19; Num. 15:22-29; Ps 19:12, 13) Of course, if it is intentional; then, the consequence is far more serious. (Num. 15:30-31) Error is in opposition to the truth, and those willfully sinning corrupt the truth, a course that only brings forth flagrant sin. (Isa 5:18-23) We can be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. – Ex 9:27, 34-35; Heb. 3:13-15.