So You’re Going to Impress God

Most people already know how to impress other people.

Speak confidently. Dress the part. Build a platform. Gain followers. Sound intelligent. Be successful. Learn how to appear strong, polished, important, and admired. Human beings have been chasing the approval of other human beings since the beginning.

But then people carry that same mindset into Christianity and assume God must be impressed by the same things.

He is not.

In fact, Scripture repeatedly shows that many of the very things men admire are often the things God rejects. Paul wrote:

“For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong.” (1 Corinthians 1:26–27)

That runs completely opposite to human thinking. Men chase greatness. God looks for humility. Men exalt self confidence. God looks for surrender. Men admire outward appearance. God examines the heart.

When the prophet Samuel went to anoint a king from the sons of Jesse, he naturally assumed the impressive looking brother must be the chosen one. But Scripture says:

“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’” (1 Samuel 16:7)

That is one of the great dividing lines in Scripture. Man looks outward. God looks inward.

This is why Jesus so often clashed with the Pharisees. Outwardly they looked righteous, disciplined, religious, knowledgeable, and respected. They loved public honor, titles, and recognition. Yet Jesus said:

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.” (Matthew 23:27)

Men were impressed. God was not.

Meanwhile, the people Christ often responded to were the very people society overlooked. A widow quietly giving two small coins. A broken tax collector crying for mercy. Fishermen. Shepherds. Blind beggars. Sinners who knew they were sinners.

Jesus even said:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3)

Poor in spirit does not mean spiritually worthless. It means spiritually bankrupt before God. Empty handed. No boasting. No self righteousness. No illusion of deserving heaven.

That attitude impresses God far more than religious performance.

David understood this after his sin was exposed. He realized God was not ultimately after ritual, appearance, or sacrifice without repentance.

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.” (Psalm 51:17)

Notice what Scripture does not say. It does not say God will not despise impressive sermons, large crowds, wealth, popularity, or public admiration. It says He will not despise a broken and contrite heart.

That is because pride is the very nature Satan fell through. Pride constantly seeks self exaltation, self glory, and recognition. Humility does the opposite. Humility agrees with God. Humility bows. Humility surrenders.

This is one reason the cross is so offensive to human nature. The cross destroys all boasting. Nobody stands at the foot of the cross bragging about personal greatness. Salvation itself declares that man could not save himself.

Paul wrote:

“But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, ‘LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.’” (1 Corinthians 1:30–31)

That is the wisdom of God. All glory is removed from man and placed entirely upon Christ.

The flesh hates that. Human nature constantly wants something within itself to point to. Education. Morality. Ministry success. Bible knowledge. Church attendance. Good behavior. But the closer a person truly walks with God, the less impressed they usually become with themselves.

That is why Paul could say:

“Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

The world sees weakness as failure. God often uses weakness to expose where true strength comes from.

This does not mean God is pleased with laziness, compromise, or careless living. Scripture calls believers to holiness, obedience, faithfulness, and perseverance. But those things are meant to flow from surrender to Christ, not from prideful attempts to impress Him.

Jesus said:

“So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.’” (Luke 17:10)

That attitude is almost extinct in modern culture. Everything today pushes self promotion, self importance, and self glory. Even much of religion has become a performance designed to impress people rather than humble hearts before God.

But God still resists the proud.

“God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)

That verse should make every religious person stop and think carefully. It does not say God merely dislikes pride. It says He is opposed to it.

The irony is that the people most useful to God are often the people no longer trying to appear impressive. They know their weakness. They know their need for mercy. They are not building kingdoms for themselves. They are simply trying to walk faithfully with Christ.

Micah wrote:

“He has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justice, to love kindness,
And to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)

That does not sound impressive to the world. It sounds ordinary. Quiet. Humble. But heaven does not measure greatness the way earth does.

In the end, many who were admired on earth may hear nothing from God at all. And many the world barely noticed may hear the only words that truly matter:

“Well done, good and faithful slave.” (Matthew 25:23)

And on that day, the applause of men will mean absolutely nothing.

________________________________________________________________________

“What I write is not for everyone, but what I write is meant for someone.” – Dean Butler

This work may be shared for ministry or personal use, but please credit the author when doing so. © Dean Butler