(Prov 22:4 ERV) Respect the LORD and be humble. Then you will have wealth, honor, and true life.
This morning we continue our series entitled “Unlocking the Power of Proverbs – Walking in the Wisdom of God.” Ask the average person on the street how they characterize success and most people will include wealth (a big house, a nice car, and lots of ‘stuff’) in their response, and some will also include fame (seeing their name up in lights). I am not necessarily saying that ambition is a bad thing, but many have misguided ambition fueled by skewed priorities. In the last chapter Solomon said, “Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love will find life, righteousness, and honor” (21:21). When commenting on that verse I said: “When you pursue righteousness and you pursue love you actually wind up getting those things plus the added benefit of experiencing the type of life the Father desires for us to have. In Matthew 6 Jesus said, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (v.33). When you pursue righteousness, instead of “things,” then not only do you get the righteousness but you realize that the “things” that you chose not to pursue actually wind up pursuing you. In other words, what you give up in pursuit of God is never really lost. The Father has a way of ensuring you experience all that you could ever enjoy, because you chose to put Him first!” This is basically the essence of what Solomon is teaching us this morning. If we respect the LORD and humble ourselves before Him, then we will develop an intimate relationship with Him and that relationship can give birth to wealth, honor, and true life!
I know that this type of teaching is ‘old fashioned’ to many. People today don’t want to know about the fear of the LORD or humility, they want to know how they can get ahead; they want to know how to WIN in life. Well, guess what? These are not mutually exclusive concepts. When you fear the Lord, when you respect Him from a pure heart and with a contrite spirit, and when you humble yourself before Him daily, then He will come in, abide with you, commune in your presence, fill your heart with good things, and give you His favor. Once His favor is upon what you do, then you will experience a supernatural success that human effort could never produce. Divine favor can do more in a minute than labor can do in a lifetime. So while Godly respect and humility may seem like dull topics (not sexy or attractive), they may be exactly what you need to develop in, in order to experience God’s best for your life. Don’t knock them until you’ve tried them.
So what does this mean to you today? It means that if you pursue the unpopular, seeking to respect to LORD and humble yourself before Him daily, then not only will you enjoy a powerful and intimate relationship with Him, but you will also be rewarded with all the things worldly people seek after. If you live right, not only can you attain wealth and honor, but you can also lay hold of the most important thing, and that is TRUE LIFE in God.
Closing Confession: Father, I respect You with my whole heart. I humble myself before You daily and I come into Your presence with clean hands. I thank You for delivering me from sin and I declare that I shall not continue in sin any longer. Jesus paid the penalty for my sin with His own blood and I refuse to disrespect the price that was paid for my salvation. I fear You Father with reverential fear and respect. I humbly commune with You and ask You to commune with me. My relationship with You is my #1 focus, aim, and goal. As I develop my relationship with You, I believe You will favor the work of my hands and cause me to experience Your best daily. I pursue You and as I do, wealth, honor, and true life will pursue me! In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
