Proverbs 6:16-17. 16There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: 17haughty eyes.
They say that most of our communication is non-verbal. This includes our negative communication. The faces we make. The looks we give. The eye rolls. The side-eye. The frowns. The glare. The glance. The refusal to look someone in the eye.
Obviously, the real issue is not just the looks we give, but the heart attitude behind the looks. The pride. The self-importance. Looking past people as if they don’t even exist. The haughty can’t engage others on an equal level. They use others as objects, rather than engaging others to truly know them and care for them.
Worse yet, there is no sympathy in the haughty. The person with haughty eyes can’t see the hurt in the eyes of others. When they see a hurting person they only think about themselves. I’m too busy to help. I’m glad I’m smart enough to avoid that same misfortune. I’ve got my own problems to worry about. The haughty simply will not let themselves enter into the troubles of others.
Why does God hate haughty eyes so much? Because he hates our pride. God didn’t create any one of us to lord it over others. He made us to love and serve one another. To listen and care. To look each other in the eye as equals. To see into one another’s souls and find the image of God there.
If ever there was someone who could have looked at others with haughty eyes it was Jesus. He alone had every right to be proud and self-exalted. Yet his eyes were always full of compassion and grace. He looked into the eye of the blind man so that his face was the first thing he’d see. He looked directly at the bleeding woman, addressing her as daughter. He looked the rich young ruler hard in the eye, challenging him to give away his self-sufficiency and follow.
One day Jesus will look each of us in the eye with his transforming eyes of love, and we will be like him, for we will see him as he is (1 John 3:2). The first look into our eyes will be enough to melt all foolish pride out of our hearts.
In Christ, we must look at others with Jesus’ eyes of love and compassion. We must forsake all pride and the haughty eyes that display it. Our union with Christ’s cross demands it. There is absolutely no room for pride in the Christian life. God opposes it, and so must we.
And in Christ we can. When your only boast is the cross, there is no room left over for haughty looks and prideful interactions. The more we let our co-crucifixion be our only confidence, the more our countenance will reflect the new heart of Jesus given to us by the Spirit.
You: Are you aware of your non-verbal communication (the looks you give)? Do your eyes reflect pride or compassion?
You in Christ: God has looked into your face with the glory of the face of Christ. How does knowing this transform your heart from closed to open?
Christ in you: Be aware of your eyes today. Your looks. How can you use your eyes to communicate the love and grace of God today?
Prayer: Father, keep me humble not haughty as I keep my eyes on Christ and allow Christ to look me in the eye by the Spirit. Amen.
To Live is Christ 