By Oyewole O. Sarumi
In Christian spirituality, few themes are as central and as misunderstood as the concept of humility. For many, spiritual maturity is thought of as a process of “rising higher”, accumulating wisdom, demonstrating virtue, or ascending in holiness.
But Frederick Brotherton Meyer (1847–1929), a respected Baptist pastor and devotional writer of the late Victorian era, offered a profound corrective to this view.
He once wrote: “I used to think that God’s gifts were on shelves one above the other, and that the taller we grew in Christian character, the easier we could reach them. I now find that God’s gifts are on shelves one beneath the other. It is not a question of growing taller but of stooping lower; that we have to go down, always down, to get His best gifts.”
This deceptively simple metaphor captures one of the most profound truths of Scripture: God’s greatest blessings are not for the proud, the self-sufficient, or the spiritually “tall,” but for those who humble themselves, stoop low, and embrace the meekness of Christ. In an age obsessed with achievement, self-promotion, and power, even within the church, Meyer’s words remind us that the way up in the Kingdom of God is always down.
This article explores the spiritual and theological depth of Meyer’s statement. We will examine the biblical foundation of humility as the pathway to God’s best gifts, drawing from church tradition and modern scholarship, and reflect on how Christians today can embody this radical, downward way of discipleship.
The Shift in Perspective: From Growing Taller to Stooping Lower
Meyer’s imagery begins with a natural assumption: gifts are placed on high shelves, and the taller you are, the easier you can reach them. This assumption mirrors how much of human culture views advancement, whether in education, careers, or even religion, as a matter of climbing higher, achieving more, or reaching loftier heights.
In the spiritual life, this assumption translates into the idea that God rewards spiritual maturity with elevated status, mystical experiences, or visible success.
Yet Meyer discovered that this assumption was misplaced. The true path to God’s richest blessings was not vertical ascent but downward movement.
This insight reflects the heart of Jesus’ teaching in the Gospels:
- “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”(Matthew 23:12)
- “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5)
- “Unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the Kingdom of heaven.”(Matthew 18:3)
The spiritual journey, therefore, is not about stretching ourselves upward in prideful achievement, but bending ourselves downward in childlike humility.
Humility as the Central Virtue of the Christian Life
The Biblical Witness
The Bible repeatedly affirms humility as the essential posture of those who receive God’s grace. James 4:6 declares: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
This theme is echoed in Proverbs 3:34 and 1 Peter 5:5. The pattern is consistent: those who strive upward in pride meet God’s opposition, but those who bow low receive His favor.
Paul describes Jesus’ humility as the very core of the gospel: “He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name.” (Philippians 2:8–9)
Here we see the paradox: the descent of Christ into humility is what leads to His exaltation. The same paradox applies to believers. True greatness in the Kingdom is found in lowering ourselves in imitation of Christ.
Early Christian Voices
The early Church Fathers consistently emphasized humility as the foundation of all virtue. Augustine (354–430) famously stated: “If you ask me what the essential thing in the religion and discipline of Jesus Christ is, I shall reply: first, humility; second, humility; and third, humility.”
John Chrysostom (c. 349–407), the golden-mouthed preacher of Constantinople, warned that pride was the root of the devil’s fall, while humility was the secret of Christ’s triumph. For the fathers, humility was not one virtue among many, but the soil in which all others grow.
Meyer’s metaphor aligns beautifully with this patristic tradition: God’s gifts lie low, where only the humble can reach them.
The Downward Journey: “Always Down”
Meyer adds a striking phrase: “always down.” This suggests that humility is not a one-time act of stooping, but a continuous posture, a lifelong descent.
The Call to Ongoing Humility
Humility is not achieved once and for all. Pride is a constant temptation, even for spiritually mature individuals. In fact, pride often grows in the soil of spiritual progress, as believers begin to trust in their accomplishments rather than in God’s grace. Paul himself acknowledged this danger, confessing in 2 Corinthians 12 that God gave him a “thorn in the flesh” to keep him humble.
Meyer’s “always down” reminds us that humility must be cultivated daily through prayer, repentance, service, and a reminder of our dependence on God.
The Example of Christ
Jesus models this downward movement perfectly. Philippians 2 describes His trajectory as one of continual descent:
- From equality with God to taking the form of a servant.
- From servant to human likeness.
- From human likeness to death.
- From death to death on a cross.
Christ’s life was an unbroken movement downward, culminating in the ultimate act of humility, suffering death for sinners. Our discipleship mirrors His path: the deeper we humble ourselves, the closer we come to the heart of Christ.
- Matthew 11:28–30: The Meek and Lowly Christ
Meyer’s quote is often paired with Matthew 11:28–30, where Jesus issues His famous invitation: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Here, Christ identifies meekness and lowliness of heart as His defining attributes. He does not present Himself as a conqueror or a philosopher, but as the humble servant who invites the weary to find rest.
This passage highlights two key truths:
- God’s gifts are found in humility. The rest Christ offers is not gained by striving upward but by stooping down, taking on His yoke, and learning from His humility.
- Humility brings freedom. Paradoxically, the humility of Christ brings ease and rest, while the pride of self-reliance leads to exhaustion and burden.
- The Dangers of Seeking the Higher Shelf
Pride and Spiritual Elitism
When we imagine God’s gifts as being on higher shelves, the result is pride and elitism. Those who see themselves as spiritually “taller” may look down on others, believing they have achieved a higher status in the eyes of God. This attitude mirrors the Pharisees, who took pride in their law-keeping but missed the humility of heart that God desired (Luke 18:9–14).
Performance-Based Christianity
The “higher shelf” mentality fosters a performance-driven spirituality, where believers measure themselves by achievements, experiences, or recognition. This can lead to spiritual burnout, discouragement, or hypocrisy. God’s economy is different: His best gifts are given freely to those who confess their need and stoop in humility.
The Fruits of Stooping Lower
What happens when believers embrace Meyer’s call to go lower? The gifts we receive are not material wealth or worldly power, but treasures of the Spirit.
Grace and Forgiveness
The greatest gift is the grace of God itself. As James 4:6 reminds us, “God gives grace to the humble.” When we stoop in repentance, confessing our sin and need, we receive the inexhaustible gift of forgiveness.
Rest for the Soul
Matthew 11 promises rest for those who learn Christ’s humility. In a restless world, this rest is one of God’s choicest gifts. It is found not in striving for greatness but in surrendering to Christ’s yoke.
Love and Service
Humility opens us to the gift of love, expressed through service. Jesus washed His disciples’ feet (John 13:1–17) as a demonstration of humble love. When we stoop low, we discover the joy of serving others, the gift of being Christ’s hands and feet in the world.
Unity in the Church
Pride divides; humility unites. Paul urges believers in Philippians 2:3–4: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” Stooping lower fosters unity in the body of Christ, one of God’s most precious gifts to the church.
Modern Applications: Stooping in a Culture of Climbing
Meyer’s insight is perhaps more relevant today than ever. We live in a culture that idolizes “growing taller,” characterized by career advancement, personal branding, social media influence, and religious celebrity culture. Even within the church, there is often a temptation to equate size, visibility, or success with God’s blessing.
To stoop lower in today’s world means:
- Rejecting self-promotion in favor of Christ-exaltation.
- Serving quietly without seeking recognition.
- Confessing weakness rather than projecting strength.
- Valuing hidden faithfulness over public acclaim.
As Henri Nouwen, the Catholic spiritual writer, observed: “The way of Jesus is the way of downward mobility. It is going to the bottom, taking the last place, going to the margins.”
This downward way is not glamorous, but it is where God’s richest gifts are found.
The Ongoing Journey of Humility
Finally, Meyer’s phrase “always down” reminds us that humility is not a destination but a journey. Christians never graduate from the school of humility. The gifts of God lie lower still, calling us even deeper into dependence, service, and surrender.
Even Paul, late in his ministry, described himself not as a spiritual giant but as the “chief of sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). The closer he came to Christ, the more he stooped in humility.
A Challenge to Today’s Church Leaders: The Peril of Living Taller Instead of Stooping Lower
F. B. Meyer’s reflection is not only a personal call to humility but also a prophetic challenge to those entrusted with spiritual leadership.
Sadly, many church leaders today embody a lifestyle that is the very opposite of stooping lower. Instead of bending in humility, service, and self-denial, some build platforms of celebrity culture, material extravagance, and unchecked authority. Their lives project a theology of “growing taller”, accumulating wealth, prestige, and influence, rather than the meekness of Christ.
Such leadership is not only dangerous for the leaders themselves but also for their congregations. Jesus warned that blind guides lead both themselves and their followers into destruction (Matthew 15:14). When pastors or leaders pursue self-exaltation, they model to their congregants a distorted Christianity, one that equates success with pride, status, and material gain. This is not the gospel of Christ; it is closer to the temptation He rejected in the wilderness (Matthew 4:8–10).
Unless such leaders repent, they risk both misleading their flocks and damning their own souls. James 3:1 warns soberly: “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” Leadership in God’s church is a sacred trust, and it requires a posture of humility, not a scramble for prominence.
The challenge is urgent: will today’s leaders embrace the way of Christ, the towel and the basin of footwashing (John 13:14), or will they persist in the way of the Pharisees, who loved the chief seats and public honor (Matthew 23:6–7)?
The future of many congregations depends on leaders who rediscover that the true treasures of God are not found on the higher shelf of status, but on the lower shelf of humility, sacrifice, and servanthood.
Conclusion
F. B. Meyer’s reflection turns our assumptions upside down, or rather, right-side down. It is the paradox of God’s best gifts, which are not stored high for the proud achievers to reach, but low for the humble to receive. The way to God’s treasures is not up but down; not through self-exaltation, but through self-emptying.
As Christians, we must embrace this paradox: to gain, we must lose; to live, we must die; to rise, we must stoop. The cross of Christ stands as the ultimate symbol of this truth: the most profound humility producing the highest exaltation.
In a world striving to climb higher, may we have the courage to stoop lower. For there, on the lowest shelf, we find God’s richest gifts: grace, rest, love, and eternal life in Christ.