Scripture: Proverbs 22:4
"Humility
is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life." (NIV)
Introduction: Our text reflects upon the timeless wisdom found in the Book of
Proverbs, particularly Proverbs 22:4. This verse intricately ties together
three critical elements of the Christian life: humility, the fear of the Lord,
and the blessings that come from them.
1.Understanding
Humility: Humility is often misunderstood in
today’s world, where self-promotion and pride can overshadow the virtues we
should cherish. The Bible teaches us that true humility is not thinking less of
ourselves, but thinking of ourselves less. It allows us to recognize our need
for God and our dependence on His grace. When we approach life with humility,
we position ourselves to experience God more fully and open our hearts to His
guidance.
Humility
fallen out of favor in a time of selfies and relentless
status updates. The virtue of humility. We live in an era that believes it can
no longer afford to be humble. Aggressive virtues such as “do not back down,”
Lead and be Great often does not associate with humility, a Leader is not a
follower
Illustration:
Consider the life of Jesus. The King of Kings, who walked among us in complete
humility. He washed His disciples' feet and chose to live simply, embodying the
very essence of humility. As we strive to follow Him, we too must embrace this
powerful virtue. When we live a humble life, it is hard for anyone to knock us
down because we already humble.
Matthew
23:12: For those who exalt themselves will be humbled,
and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Interesting
here is that last will be first and first will be last
2.
The Fear of the Lord: Next, we examine what
it means to have the fear of the Lord. This fear is not about being scared but
rather a deep respect, awe, and reverence for God and His authority. When we
fear the Lord, we acknowledge His holiness and power, which leads us to live in
obedience to His Word. This reverence profoundly impacts our decisions,
relationships, and ultimately, our character.
Scriptural
Support:
Psalm 111:10 reminds us, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of
wisdom." When we place our trust and fear in God, we begin to understand
the world through His lens, granting us insight that surpasses human
understanding.
Luke
18:9-14 showing humility in our relationship
In the energetic streets of Jerusalem, a Pharisee and a tax collector
walk towards the temple to pray, each with a vastly different burden upon his
heart. Their paths cross only briefly, but the journeys of their souls are
headed in opposite directions.
As the Pharisee stands before the altar, his
robe flows in the wind, his prayers are loud and confident. He raises his eyes
to heaven and, in a voice that echoes through the temple, prays, “God, I thank
you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like
this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.”
The Pharisee’s life has been one of discipline,
a journey of religious observance. To others, he appears righteous, the epitome
of what a man of God should be. But inside, his heart is filled with pride. In
his pursuit of spiritual excellence, he has lost sight of humility, and without
realizing it, distanced himself from the very God he seeks to please. He is so
absorbed in his achievements that he has no room for empathy, no understanding
of the struggles of those around him.
Nearby, the tax collector stands at a distance,
his head bowed low. Unlike the Pharisee, he cannot even lift his eyes to
heaven. He is despised by society, seen as a traitor who exploits his own
people. But here, in the temple, his heart is laid bare. With trembling hands
and a voice choked with emotion, he whispers, “God, have mercy on me, a
sinner.”
This man, broken and aware of his failures,
stands in his vulnerability before God. He embodies the raw, honest humility
that the Pharisee lacks. He has made many mistakes, but in this moment of
surrender, his spirit is open to transformation. His words are few, but his
heart is desperate for grace.
The tax collector wasn’t hiding behind outward
displays of piety. Instead, he embraced his flaws and, in doing so, allowed
God’s grace to enter his life. His prayer was an invitation for divine
healing—a prayer for mercy rather than recognition.
Jesus, in His wisdom, flips the expected
narrative. Through His parable teachings He brought the audience face-to-face
with the uncomfortable truth that humility is more valuable than prideful
perfection. The tax collector, though scorned, was the one truly on a path
toward spiritual transformation.
In this juxtaposition of the two men, we see the
heart of the Christian journey—a call to leave behind self-righteousness and
embrace authentic vulnerability. The Pharisee’s confidence was a mask for the
emptiness within, while the tax collector’s brokenness made room for God’s
redemptive power.
In his humility, the tax collector found the
grace he desperately sought. Jesus’ parables reveal the upside-down nature of
God’s kingdom—a place where the last shall be first, and the humble exalted.
The tax collector’s story is one of hope.
It invites us to reflect on our own faith
journeys—to recognize our need for grace.
In this parable, Jesus calls us to walk the path
of humility, to foster empathy for the struggles of others, and to embrace the
transformative power of vulnerability. When we do, we invite God’s grace into
our lives, aligning ourselves with the ultimate journey of spiritual growth.
Let us never forget that it is not in our
outward displays of righteousness but in our humble, honest prayers that we
truly find communion with God. And in that moment of surrender, we, too, can be
justified, just like the tax collector who dared to pray, “God, have mercy on
me, a sinner.”
3.
The Blessings of Riches, Honor, and Life: Finally, Proverbs 22:4 concludes with a powerful promise: the
rewards of humility and fear of the Lord are riches, honor, and life. It is
crucial to understand that these blessings may not always be material in
nature. Often, they manifest as spiritual wealth, deep relationships, and a joy
that transcends circumstances.
·
Riches: Spiritual wealth is often far more valuable than monetary gain. A
rich heart, filled with the love and grace of God, equips us to bless others
abundantly and live a life full of purpose.
·
Honor: Honor comes from the Lord. When we live humbly and reverently, we
earn respect not just from those around us but also from God Himself. It’s a
call to integrity and character that reflects Christ.
·
Life: The promise of life is one of both abundance and eternal
significance. As we walk in humility, trusting God completely, we can
experience true life, filled with His purpose and peace.
Conclusion:
Luke 14:8
“When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do
not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have
been invited.”
In
closing, Proverbs 22:4 teaches us that embracing humility and the fear of the
Lord unlocks the door to profound blessings. Let us examine our hearts
today—are we walking in true humility? Do we possess a healthy fear of the Lord
that guides our actions?
May we commit ourselves to live each day
in a manner that honors God, seeking His wisdom and blessings. Let us pray for
the courage to embody humility and the reverence that pleases our Heavenly
Father.
What are we bragging about?
A
man received a promotion to the position of Vice President of the company he
worked for. The promotion went to his head, and for weeks on end he bragged to
anyone and everyone that he was now VP. His bragging came to an abrupt halt
when his wife, so embarrassed by his behaviour, said, “Listen Bob, it’s not
that big a deal. These days everyone’s a vice president. Why they even have a
vice president of produce down at the supermarket!”
Somewhat
deflated, Bob rang the local supermaket to find out if this was true. “Can I
speak to the Vice President of produce please?” he asked, to which the reply
came: “of fresh or frozen?”
Great Power with
Great Humility
Sam Rayburn served as the Speaker of
the House of Representatives in the United States Congress for seventeen
years. As the Speaker of the House, Sam Rayburn wielded incredible power
and prestige. He was third in the line of succession to the presidency.
One day, he found out that the teenage
daughter of a reporter friend had tragically died. Early the next morning, Sam
Rayburn knocked on the door of his friend. When the door opened, Rayburn
asked if there was anything he could do. His friend stammered and replied,
“I don’t think there is anything you can do. We are making all the
arrangements.”
“Well, have you had your coffee this
morning?” Rayburn asked.
“No. We haven’t had time.” said the
grieving man.
“Well,” the Speaker of the House
replied, “I can at least make the coffee.”
As he watched this powerful man make
him coffee, the father suddenly remembered something. “Mr. Speaker, I thought
you were supposed to be having breakfast at the White House this morning.”
“Well I was, but I called the
President and told him I had a friend who was in trouble, and I couldn’t come.”
Sam Rayburn turned down breakfast with
the President of the United States to make coffee for a grieving friend.
Great Humility can be exercised by people of great
power.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank You for the wisdom in Your Word. Help us
to walk in humility and fear of You. Teach us to value the riches, honor, and
life that come from living according to Your ways. Guide us each day to reflect
Your grace and love to those around us. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.
