Proverbs 22:4-5
The reward for humility and fearing the Lord
is riches and honor and life.
Thorns and snares are in the path of the perverse,
but the one who guards himself keeps far from them.
Riches. Honor. Life.
We’ve already said that the book of Proverbs isn’t a book of promises, but a book that describes the way things are. Either way, this proverb sounds pretty good. If this is the way thing are, then it sounds pretty awesome. And if it were a promise, well then it’s a pretty awesome promise.
A LONG time ago, we talked about what it mean to fear the lord. (If you want a refresher on what that means, click here: http://davidlindner.net/2013/01/proverbious-day-2-proverbs-17-9/) How, yes there is an inherent fear, because God is awesome. Literally. He is awesome. And He is majestic and powerful and astounding and incomprehensible. So, yes, we should be afraid of God. But that is not all there is to fearing the Lord. Fearing the Lord has also to do with reverence and worship, submission and surrender.
And, as we’ve talked many times, the wise person is a humble person. When you’re living a proverbious life, you know that there is always something new to learn. There is always some area of your life that you need to work on. There is always another step you need to take. There is always some progress you need to make. You know that there are plenty of people around you who know more than you about a lot of things, and you do your best to learn from them. You don’t brag about your own accomplishments, but lift up the accomplishments of others.
And what is the reward for being humble and fearing the Lord?
Riches. Honor. Life.
