“The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, and before honour is humility." — Proverbs 15:33
This verse has been on my heart lately because it reminds me that God's way is so different from the world's way. The world teaches us to chase recognition, build a platform, make a name for ourselves, and seek applause. But God's Kingdom teaches something completely different. He teaches us to serve, to surrender, and to walk in humility.
The fear of the Lord isn't about being terrified of God. It's about having such deep reverence, love, and respect for Him that we desire to obey Him above everything else. That reverence becomes the beginning of wisdom because it shifts our focus off ourselves and onto Him.
Humility isn't weakness. It's strength under God's authority.
Serving for an Audience of One
One thing God has been showing me is that our service should never depend on whether anyone notices.
It's easy to serve when people thank us. It's easy to keep going when others recognize our effort or praise what we're doing. But what happens when nobody sees?
Will we still serve?
Will we still obey?
Will we still give our best if our name is never mentioned?
I believe those are some of the places where God does His deepest work in us.
Sometimes He intentionally places us in seasons where we're faithfully serving behind the scenes. We may not receive recognition. We may not get the appreciation we think we deserve. It can even feel discouraging at times.
But maybe that's exactly where He wants us.
Because when nobody else notices, we find out who we're really serving.
If we're serving for applause, we'll eventually become discouraged. But if we're serving for God, then His approval is enough.
Proverbs 15:33 doesn't say honor comes before humility. It says humility comes first.
That's difficult because our flesh naturally wants the opposite. We want the promotion before the process. We want the blessing before the refining. We want influence before surrender.
But God often works in reverse.
Throughout Scripture, He consistently humbled those He planned to use. Before David became king, he was a shepherd and spent years running from Saul. Before Joseph ruled Egypt, he served as a slave and sat in prison. Before Moses led Israel, he spent forty years tending sheep in the wilderness.
God has never been in a hurry to build someone's platform. He's always more concerned with building their character.
Over the last several years, I feel like God has humbled me in ways I never expected.
I've realized something about myself: whenever I become too comfortable, I also become stagnant.
Comfort has a way of convincing us that we've arrived. We stop depending on God as much because everything feels familiar and manageable. We know what to expect. We know what to do. We know how to handle things on our own.
But that's not where faith grows.
I've noticed that the moments when I've grown the most have almost always been the moments when I felt the least comfortable.
When God places me somewhere unfamiliar, I suddenly realize how much I need Him. I don't always know what the next step should be. I don't know what decision to make. I don't know when to move or when to wait.
Those seasons force me to pray more.
They force me to listen more.
They force me to trust Him instead of trusting myself.
Looking back, I can honestly say those uncomfortable seasons have produced more spiritual growth than any season of comfort ever has.
One picture that continually comes to mind is the image of clay in the potter's hands.
Clay has to remain soft to be shaped.
Once it hardens, it can no longer be molded.
I think the same is true in our spiritual lives.
Humility keeps our hearts soft before God.
Pride hardens us.
Comfort can harden us.
Self-sufficiency can harden us.
But when we stay humble, God continues shaping us into who He's calling us to become.
Sometimes that shaping is uncomfortable.
Sometimes it means serving in places we wouldn't choose.
Sometimes it means being overlooked.
Sometimes it means doing work that nobody applauds.
But every hidden act of obedience matters to God.
I think many of us naturally drift back toward whatever feels safe and familiar. That's human nature.
But when I read the life of Jesus and the lives of His disciples, I don't see lives built around comfort.
I see sacrifice.
I see surrender.
I see obedience.
Jesus never promised His followers a comfortable life. He promised His presence.
God absolutely comforts us in our trials. He provides for our needs. He pours out incredible blessings on His children.
But following Jesus often means stepping into places that stretch our faith.
Sometimes obedience feels uncomfortable because it's requiring us to trust instead of control.
Sometimes serving feels uncomfortable because our pride wants recognition.
Sometimes waiting feels uncomfortable because we'd rather move ahead on our own timing.
Yet those are often the very places where God is producing wisdom, perseverance, and Christlike character.
At the end of the day, our goal isn't to become well-known.
Our goal is to make Christ known.
If God chooses to honor us someday, praise Him.
If He calls us to quietly serve behind the scenes for years, praise Him.
Either way, He is worthy.
The greatest reward isn't recognition from people.
It's hearing the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant."
So wherever God has you today—whether you're serving publicly or privately, whether you're leading many or simply loving the people right in front of you—serve with humility.
Serve because you love Him.
Serve because He first served you.
And trust that every act of faithful obedience, even the unseen ones, is never wasted in God's Kingdom.
Because before honor comes humility.
And the fear of the Lord truly is the instruction of wisdom.