Riches and Honour

Proverbs 22:4 NKJV — “By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life.”

Scripture tells us that; “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."-Proverbs 9:10

If we can grasp this, then Proverbs 22:4 will be like honey in our mouths.

Every one wants "rishes and honor in life". Many times Christians feels they have been left behind in this area. We see the ungodly prosper, and we wonder why life seems so effortless for them.

Let me tell you, being humble and God-fearing doesn’t always mean that everything in our lives will look successful by the world’s standards. If that is where you find yourself today, please know there is nothing wrong with you. You are not a failure!

True success is not measured the way the world measures it. When we remain humble before God and walk in His ways, we are successful in the way that matters most.

But there is something we need to be careful of when success does come. When people begin to notice us, honour us, or speak highly of what we have accomplished, it can quietly begin to change our hearts. Pride can creep in, and we can start believing that we are the source of our own success. We can forget that every good thing we have-ultimately comes from the hand of a merciful and loving God ... our Father in heaven!

So, if God blesses our diligent work with “riches and honor and life,” we need to become even more humble, not less. The greater the blessing, the greater our need to remain close to God and give Him the honour and the glory for it.

It is easy in today’s world, and even sometimes within the church, to make everything about what God has done for me. We can begin to think that God has blessed us because we are somehow more deserving than someone else, or that another person’s struggles mean God is displeased with them. But we must be very careful with that kind of thinking. God is not partial. His blessings are not a measure of our worth compared with someone else’s.

Scripture reminds us that God gives grace to the humble and resists the proud [James 4:6]. So when blessings come into our lives, may they cause us to bow our hearts lower, thank God more deeply, and honour Him even more.

God is truly awesome and amazing. This reminds me of another Proverb I recently read:

Proverbs 18:11 — “The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his own esteem.”

There is a real danger that success can become our security. We can begin to trust in what we have, what we have achieved, or how others see us. Another Proverb [28:11], reminds us that a person can become wise in their own eyes. When that happens, we no longer look to God as our source, because we start looking to ourselves.

So today, let’s pause and reflect on how much God has blessed us. Let’s be grateful for His provision, thankful for every opportunity, and humble enough to remember where it all comes from.

Whatever we have, whatever we accomplish, and whatever honour comes our way—it is all a gift from God!

Prayer

Father, may Your blessings never draw us away from You, and make us prideful, but instead draw us closer to You. May we remain humble, grateful, and full of reverence for You, who gives us every good thing we can ever want or need in this life. Amen!