Proverbs 15:33 The fear of the Lord teaches a man wisdom,
and humility comes before honor.

The Bible has many verses that connect wisdom with fearing the Lord, but this one implies a process. The Japanese renders the first half as, “The fear of the Lord is training in wisdom.” There is no such thing as a “wisdom pill,” or a “training pill” in anything, for that matter. We live in an “instant” age, where patient endurance seems to be a lost art, and we are much the poorer for it. We don’t want to put in the hours or the effort, and wind up with about as much wisdom as a goldfish. When we fear God properly we aren’t demanding, but rather trust Him to bring about His perfect plan on His schedule. At the same time, if we fear Him properly, when He says move, we move! In our human weakness we hardly ever get it right the first time, but if our focus is on Him, we’ll keep trying, and that is training. This is very closely tied with the second half of the verse. Here too we live in a time of instant celebrities, with the Internet vastly accelerating a trend that has been going on for quite a while, of “overnight hits” and people becoming famous for being famous. Such “honor,” if you could really call it that, is illusory at best. True honor comes from being honorable in the first place, and that requires a humble spirit. The best way to have a humble spirit is to fear God! When we know to the depth of our being that without Christ we can do nothing, (John 15:5) we are in the right position for God to lift us up. (1 Peter 5:6) That seems pretty wise to me!

I’ve certainly had my struggles with waiting on God and trusting Him, so I shouldn’t look down on others who are in that situation. I must remember that, as Jesus reminded the rich young ruler, God alone is good. (Matthew 19:17) I must never trust in my own righteousness, but only in the One who makes it possible for me to be righteous by faith in Him. (Ezekiel 33:13, Romans 4:13) When I am given honor and praise by people I am not to be ungracious, but I am never to think I “earned” it somehow. God alone is worthy of all praise, honor, and glory.

Father, I’ve been asked to speak briefly at a regional morning prayer time/prayer breakfast this morning. When asked, I accepted almost casually, yet I am increasingly aware that it will be an assembly of saints, several of them leaders of far larger congregations than my own. Help me not fear them in any way but rather fear You, allowing You to speak Your heart through me. May the words You speak through me draw them into more intimate fellowship with You, giving them a hunger for more, for their blessing and the blessing of many through them, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!