Focus: God's Means to Good Ends

Text: Prov.22:4.

"By HUMILITY and the FEAR of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life."

Humility and the fear of the Lord are God's sure means, even as riches, honor, and life are God's good ends. Pride is not one of the laws of wealth creation. Pride demotes, but humility promotes. Pride wins no accolades and merits no praise. No one feels good or at home around proud people.

It is by means of humility that a man rises to a position of honor. Through diligence and industry the humble rises to honor.

In God's system the fear of God is a fundamental law of life and success. What's life without the fear of God? Wealth or high position in life amounts to nothing without the fear of the Lord?

Wealth, honor and life are God's normal for man - not poverty, dishonor and miserable life. Poverty is abnormal in God's world. There's nothing virtuous about poverty and nothing mystical about prosperity.

To fear God is to honor him. To fear God is to obey him. For being obedient, God says to Abraham, "For now I know that thou fearest God... In blessing I will bless thee..." - Gen.22:12,17.

Let us honor God and be humble, and the good things of life will come our way - riches, honor and life. Amen.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter