Proverbs 3:35. The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace.
The Ancient Near East was an honor-shame culture, as are many cultures in the East today. Everything was done in order to gain honor while preventing shame or disgrace. To have honor was to have the most valuable thing you could have. Honor was considered far more valuable than any wealth or position you might obtain. A rich person could be considered very foolish and shameful (cheating, stealing, unjust), while a poor person can have great honor (honesty, hard-working, sharing).
We’ve already seen in Proverbs that the wise person is the one who wants to honor God more than anything else, not just by being moral, but by trusting God above all else. Trusting his steadfast love and faithfulness while letting him direct your path. Such trust honors God, and such trust receives God’s honor. The wise person not only honors God, but will also be honored by God. Solomon calls this honor our inheritance. At the end of days, when Christ returns for his own, those who have been wise will inherit honor. Or to say it another way, those who have trusted in Christ will not be put to shame.
1 Peter 2:6-7. 6For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” 7So the honor is for you who believe…
At the end of days who will inherit honor from God? Who will avoid shame and guilt? Whoever believes in Christ, that’s who. Faith in Christ IS wisdom. Why? Because without faith in Christ everything you do in this life, even the good that you do, will only result in shame. It will never be good enough. It will never be pure or perfect. It will always be from a mixed motivation. As Jesus himself told us:
Luke 12:2-3. 2Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 3Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.
On judgment day will all your secret words and thoughts bring you honor or shame? Will your secret deeds now fully exposed reveal that you were wise or a fool? When the light of Christ shines on your life will it earn for you an inheritance of honor and glory? Shame and disgrace?
I think we all know the answer.
But the good news is that God has no desire to shame you. He gains nothing from your disgrace. He does however desire to honor you, not because of you, but because of Christ in you, the hope of glory. Christian, do you know that God wants to honor you! He wants to cheer you on, celebrate your faith, and praise your life as a picture of his great grace. And one day he will. Jesus will honor you in front of God just like God honors Jesus in front of you. Oh what a glorious day that will be. Until that day let’s honor God with our faith in Christ, not our imperfect deeds of self-righteousness.
You: Can you imagine yourself being honored by God one day? Today?
You in Christ: How does trusting that God will honor your faith motivate you to live by faith today?
Christ in you: How can you honor Christ today? Is there an area of your life where the Lord is nudging you toward living in greater integrity?
Pray: Father, I don’t want to be a disgraced fool, I want to be honored by you. Help me to receive the honor that comes with faith in Christ, and help me to be honorable today, honest, hard-working, and kind. Amen.
To Live is Christ 