John Calvin Commentary James 4:10

"Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall exalt you." — James 4:10 (ASV)

Humble yourselves, or, be humbled. The conclusion of what has gone before is that the grace of God is then ready to raise us up when he sees that our proud spirits are laid aside. We emulate and envy because we desire to be eminent. This is a way wholly unreasonable, for it is God’s unique work to raise up the lowly, and especially those who willingly humble themselves. Whoever, then, seeks a firm elevation, let him be cast down by an awareness of his own weakness, and think humbly of himself. Augustine well observes somewhere: As a tree must strike deep roots downwards, so that it may grow upwards, so everyone who has not his soul fixed deep in humility exalts himself to his own ruin.