Those qualities would perhaps be honesty, a broken contrite heart, diligence, etc.
He has only ever asked humans for their willing obedience. It takes humility to obey God when everything in you wants to go the other way. (this is what sin does) Think of all the ways people are tempted and then think of what God wants us to do in those circumstances?
He looks for those who will obey even against their will....because they know God says it is the right thing to do.
Imagine in the garden of Eden, the serpent sets the woman up to fall for his lies and she notices how good that fruit looks. She has tried all the others and this one might even be more tasty than what she has already eaten and it comes with benefits that none of the others have......BUT then she says to him.....
"NO! God said we are not to touch that tree, it belongs to Him and it would be stealing to take anything without his permission. He has already given us so much, why would we take what is not ours?"
Imagine what would have happened if she had done that? Imagine the ramifications that would
never have taken place....
That is what God looks for......willing obedience, from an appreciative heart.
What comes first faith or those qualities?
God is a reader of hearts, so he has his message preached in all the earth so that people can come to know him and to see why the earth is in such a mess....and he discerns if that person really wants the solution he is offering? If he sees a positive response, probably because that person already has those qualities, then he will draw that one to his truth. He doesn't offer it to everyone, because not everyone wants to do what he tells them to do....they are intent on doing what
they want to do. He is not interested in those people and he has had his fill of rebels. He is looking for those with trusting, child-like qualities, who don't want to set the world on fire, but are content to warm themselves by Jehovah's fire, listening to Jesus teaching them how to live a productive life by putting God and others first.
Why is a non believer a non believer? Dishonesty perhaps, blind hearted.
Yes, its all about the heart. The apostle Paul probably summed it up best.....
"But the lawless one’s presence is by the operation of Satan with every powerful work and lying signs and wonders 10 and every unrighteous deception for those who are perishing, as a retribution because they did not accept the love of the truth in order that they might be saved. 11 That is why God lets a deluding influence mislead them so that they may come to believe the lie, 12 in order that they all may be judged because they did not believe the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness." (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)
If you have no love for the truth because it requires something from you, then God will leave you in a deluded state and you won't get anything from him. If people want to find fault with God and the things the Bible teaches, he will let them. If they take pleasure in what he condemns, then he will let them do that too....but it won't lead them anywhere.
The "broad road" to death requires nothing from anyone, that's why its easy.....the cramped and narrow road is difficult because it does require something from us....our faith, our loyalty and our love for the truth, even if its hard going. It isn't God who makes the road cramped...it is God's enemy continually planting booby traps or temptations in our path. His methods haven't changed since day one....he knows human nature better than we do, and he knows our weaknesses too. The road is narrow because there there are rules...not difficult ones but we recognize that free will is not the freedom to do whatever you please. There are restrictions, but they are for our good.
That is how I see things.
