OT Promise 374: Riches, Honor, Life

Proverbs 22:4 By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life.


God promises riches, honor, and life to those who are humble and God-fearing. It is not a cop-out to understand these promises as spiritual: spiritual riches may be invisible, but they are more valuable and last longer than fleeting, earthly money; honor from God is worth more than short-lived honor from earthlings; spiritual and eternal life is not even worth comparing with temporal, earthly life.

These promises and blessings come by humility and fear of the Lord. Humility = repentance. Fear = faith. “Repent and believe the gospel.” Genuine humility comes not by our own effort and intentionally trying to be humble; humility comes from responding in faith to the convictions of the Law of God. When the Law truly reveals my sinful condition I am humbled and penitent. True fear of God comes not by our own decision and reasoning: faith (fear) comes from responding to the sweet message of the Gospel. When the Gospel truly reveals what Jesus did for me I fear, love, and trust God.

Jesus brings this promise to us: we through His poverty have become rich; we through His shame are honored; we through His death have eternal life.