| Yesterday's Bible Study |
In this verse in Proverbs, the writer says that as we walk in humility and the fear of the Lord, we will receive riches, honor, and life. Knowing the Lord is not without sacrifices, but neither is it without immense blessings.
The writer begins by emphasizing humility and fear of the Lord. Humility is understanding that we are not our own and that our salvation was given to us by God. When we understand that we do not deserve salvation, that it is an act of grace that we did nothing to receive, we will begin to walk in humility. A saint takes no pride in saintliness. Rather, saints recognize that they are who they are because God has been gracious to them.
Fearing the Lord means that we recognize His power and justice. The Lord takes sin very seriously, and holiness is not a mere suggestion for the Christian life--it's an expectation and requirement. Fearing the Lord means that we recognize His expectations for us and seek Him faithfully, repenting of our sins as they happen and spending time with Him day after day.
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Humility combined with a fear of the Lord brings blessings to Christians riches, as the Proverb says. These are not material riches, but rather, a relationship with Jesus, the most precious of all riches. This relationship is sweet because we get to experience God working within us and through us. We are also promised honor. While this often does not come in this life, we know that in the Lord's eyes we are saints. We will be glorified with Him in Heaven.
Most importantly, as Christians we get life, which means several things in this context. It means we are freed from sin. We no longer have to be slaves to sin, controlled by evil and wrong desires. It means we can walk in confidence and faith in the Lord, trusting that He is guiding us always. It also means we have eternal life with God. We do not have to be afraid of death because we know He has already taken us from death to life and we will be with Him forever.
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