AN AMAZING PROMISE
Proverbs 22:4 ESV
4 The reward for humility and fear of the Lord
is riches and honor and life.
Many people have favorite verses in Scripture. One of my father's favorites was Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." He had me learn that verse as a child. It's a great verse. Right in the same chapter of Philippians is verse 19, that says, "and my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." That is certainly a favorite of many. During the pandemic, one of the most looked-up verses was also in the very same chapter in verse six, "...be anxious for nothing." These three verses are put on refrigerator magnets and made into signs or posters. This makes sense because these verses deal with ability, provision, and freedom from anxiety.
Our verse for today also covers three key areas that appeal to people: riches or wealth, honor or being esteemed, and life or long life. And yet, I don't recall ever seeing this verse on anyone's fridge. Maybe it's the conditions that produce riches, honor, and life.
There are conditions attached to the promises of God. All who call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Salvation is freely given but must be received. God supplying all our needs is directly connected to the preceding verses where the Philippian church had given generously to help Paul spread the gospel. Being anxious for nothing is conditional upon us praying, asking, and thanking the Lord for His help. So, these wonderful promises and principles are conditional. The same thing is true of our verse for today. Riches, honor, and life are the result of humility and the fear of the Lord.
Humility is a character trait that is held in high regard by the Lord but not as much by people. People may acknowledge that humility is desirable as long as it's someone else being humble. Particularly in our confident American culture, humility is a hard sell. Too often, it is associated with weakness, yet humility is anything but weak. Great strength is required to walk humbly with the Lord. It takes strength to abandon what we want to do and obey God's plan. It takes strength to be corrected and not respond with pouting, anger, or rejection. But the rewards for humility are big. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.
Closely associated with humility is the fear of the Lord. This fear is rooted in reverence as opposed to a fear of punishment. The Scriptures say the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Acknowledging God as the Most High and the Creator of the heavens and the earth and all that is in them is where knowledge and understanding begin. There are many high-IQ people without a fear of God. They may be smart by the world's standards, but they are not nearly as smart as God. A reverence and respect for God is the starting point for a wisdom that will last past this life.
But we must not forget that humility and fear of the Lord have a reward—riches, honor, and life—which so many people are pursuing. God is not opposed to His children having riches and honor and living long, satisfying lives. He simply provides a different path to obtaining all three.
PRAYER
Lord, show me how I can better walk in humility and the fear of You. It's the better path.