Reward!

Reward!

Proverbs 22:4 AMP

[4] The reward of humility [that is, having a realistic view of one’s importance] and the [reverent, worshipful] fear of the Lord Is riches, honor, and life. 

There is no reward for being lukewarm about the things that God considers important. The verse above mentions 'reward' and this means 'a thing given in recognition of service, effort, or achievement'. What this tells me is that you cannot be rewarded for just being there; you have to be seen to be doing something. It also matters what you do and how you do it, as the reward is also tied to terms and conditions. I do not get reward for mere activity; I get the reward for targeted activity in line with the One who commissioned the assignment in the first place. The life of the man who wrote most of the proverbs is a case in point. He was not born under the best of circumstances but God loved him and also named him. God also made im king after his father David, which was an unusual thing at the time, but, as we have seen above, what God wants to achieve is the driving factor behind what He allows, and who He sets up or brings down.

Solomon, at the start of his kingship, knew and recognised his limitations. He knew what he lacked, and when the opportunity came, he asked for that which he knew would sustain him for all of life. He asked for wisdom to lead God's people the right way, and he got a lot of that, and much more than he asked for. At the start of his kingship, Solomon extolled the virtues of humility and the fear of God. The standard has not been lowered, or changed in any way for anyone. Generations have come and gone, and there have been changes in dispensations, but these have also not lowered the standard. As many as would seek after humility, and live in reverence and awe of this God, the same would get the rewards that are laid out in the verse above. It appears to me that the pursuit of humility and the fear of God is the greatest assignment a man can have.

What could be more important than laying my hands on riches, honour and life, God's style? What are those things that I could have that can guarantee me eternal life with God, outside of the things that point men to the presence and power of God in me? The other interesting thing about humility and the fear of God is that these are not properties you can assign physical value to. They are first internal, before they are made manifest on the outside. Claiming vehemently that you have them does no good; letting people know you have them is not how these work. By the display of daily living, the company I keep, the conversations I am able to hold and sustain, the taste I leave in people's lives when I have left, are some of the best ways to define what my inner content is. Do I want riches, honour and life? Fear God, and there will be nothing else to fear. God's time of favour is here.