When God looks at us, what does he want to see?
Isaiah 57 says,
For this is what the high and exalted One says—
he who lives forever, whose name is holy:
“I live in a high and holy place,
but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly
and to revive the heart of the contrite.” (v. 15 NIV)
The “high and exalted One” lives with the “contrite and lowly” ones. The Most High dwells with the most low. Through Isaiah God also declares,
“These are the ones I look on with favor:
those who are humble and contrite in spirit,
and who tremble at my word.” (66:2)
Why doesn’t the exalted One in heaven surround himself with the exalted ones on earth? Why doesn’t God favor the proud and successful?
Because God is not like us. We are attracted to confident, strong, independent individuals, but God is attracted to humble people. As James says,
“God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble.” (4:6)
So James continues, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up” (4:10).
The proud have lifted up themselves so they don’t need divine lifting.
Why does God care so much about humility?
Because God wants us to be like him.
So, what is God like?
“God is love” (1 Jn 4:16), which means God “is not proud” (1 Cor 13:4). Listen to what Jesus says about himself, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matt 11:29). Jesus’ claim to be humble goes far beyond words.
Paul explains, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich” (2 Cor 8:9). Jesus, who is the image of the invisible God, left his glorious home with the Father to become a helpless baby. He then continued his descent by allowing himself to be mocked, beaten, whipped, and crucified, all for our sake. And Jesus’ life of descent is the pattern for us to follow. In Philippians, Paul says,
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross! (2:5-8)
But remember the story doesn’t end with mere descent. Paul continues,
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. (vv. 9-11)
Christ’s resurrection and ascension shows that God raised up his humble servant. Likewise, we descend so that we can ascend with God’s power.
Besides humbling ourselves for the sake of others, how should we respond to this?
First, rejoice. After Gabriel announced Jesus’ birth to Mary, she glorifies the Lord with these words: “he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant . . . he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble” (Lk 1:48-52).
Later in Luke, Jesus also rejoices at this truth. After Jesus tells his followers, “do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” Luke mentions Jesus’ joy:
At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. (10:21)
Both Mary and Jesus rejoiced in the God who “opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
Second, “humble yourselves before the Lord.” When you pray, remember that you are talking to the most humble Person in the universe. You are talking to the highest One who became the lowest One for your sake. Don’t shout your list of demands to God with ingratitude in your heart. Go to him with humility, stay low to the ground, and he will lift you up.
After graduating from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, I served as a high school Bible teacher in Asia. I enjoy traveling, writing, and playing the drums. My latest book focuses on Paul’s work as a tentmaker and what it means for today.