The reward for humility and fear of the Lord
Proverbs 22:4 (ESV)
is riches and honor and life.
Your culture may not value humility much. In America, much of popular culture has embraced self-promotion, boasting, being one’s own God. Many of those who teach these lifestyles become popular, wealthy and honored. They think they have the good life. It takes courage to live in the opposite way, knowing that we may lose out on financial opportunities or lose out on honor in our community.
But the paradox is that humility and proper respect for Yahweh are the true paths to riches, honor and life. God will reward all your sacrifices and decisions to embrace humility. When you are honest about your faults, God sees you and is pleased. When you are willing to express your needs, and your need for help from others, God sees you and smiles.
But when do the riches and honor and life come? We have some life now, but we know this is not the whole life that God wants for us. Most of us do not have riches and honor; nor are we passionately seeking those things. So when does God fulfill the promise? In the next age, after Jesus returns, God will make everything right. We will have all the wealth we need; though we probably won’t need big bank accounts. God will honor us and give us a life that no one on earth can find in this age. 1 Peter 1:13 teaches us: “set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (ESV).
Do you keep your heart focused on humility before God, encouraged by knowing that he will reward you tremendously one day?
