At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me. My counselors and nobles resorted to me, I was restored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.

Daniel 4:36-37

In the story of Nebuchadnezzar we see that being humble before God not only leads to right relationship with God but also with others. The king was restored before God and humanity.

As we saw in a previous post, true humility is not demeaning ourselves but turning our eyes from self to God. This effects all of our relationships. If my eyes are on Christ, what am I going to see when I look at my neighbor? If I can see the glory of what Christ has done for my neighbor, I can see how much God loves my neighbor. Therefore, when I gaze upon my neighbor, I will see one beloved of God.

However, if my eyes are on myself, who I am and what I have done, I might see something entirely different when I look at my neighbor. Maybe he is weak where I am strong. Maybe he does not agree with me on theological or political matters. I might conclude that God hates this fellow because he is so very unlike me.

Paul dealt with this issue again and again in the first century. Many of the Jews who were coming to Christ believed that God could not possibly accept the gentiles the way they were. They were unclean, uncircumcised, and they did not keep Torah. Before we get down on the Jews, we must realize that many of the gentiles thought God liked them better than the Jews. After all, the Jews were still trusting in the Law while the gentiles in Christ alone. Many gentiles thought God had totally forsaken Israel.

Paul, in many different ways, would exhort both Jew and gentile to get their eyes off of who they were and what they did or didn’t do and to put their eyes on Jesus, Who He is and what He had done. Jesus and His sacrifice had made the Jew and the gentile brothers. In fact, He brought forgiveness and peace to every human relationship.  

Therefore, we can see that looking at Jesus brings peace with God, with our neighbor, and even with ourselves.