Proverbs 22:1-5

Proverbs 22:1-5
English Standard Version
22 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,
    and favor is better than silver or gold.
2 The rich and the poor meet together;
    the LORD is the Maker of them all.
3 The prudent sees danger and hides himself,
    but the simple go on and suffer for it.
4 The reward for humility and fear of the LORD
    is riches and honor and life.
5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked;
    whoever guards his soul will keep far from them.

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A price cannot be put on character and integrity--it is more valuable than all the riches in all the world.  Above that though, the name of Jesus is more valuable than all the riches in heaven and on earth.  We will see this in the book of Revelation where the kingdom that is made for Him and His people that will glorify Him seems excessive with foundations made with gemstones and gates made of huge pears that are flawless, and streets made of gold, and a sea made of crystal.  John seems to say that words failed him to describe the beauty and the splendor and yet the people still give all their rewards (their "wealth" that they have) to Jesus because He is worthy, and they praise him all the time.

When we come to the house of the LORD to worship, we are all on the same playing field.  The prince and the pauper are alike.  We all stand condemned and are in need of atonement, grace, and forgiveness.  We all need to be born again.  We are all servants (slaves if you prefer) to the LORD.  We are to submit our will to His and obey Him.

The wise man sees danger and tries to protect himself and those around him (especially those close to him) from it.  The fool runs into danger though and makes everyone around him suffer along with him for his foolishness.

Solomon says that the LORD rewards humility and fear of the LORD (which leads to repentance and obedience consistent with salvation) is riches, honor and life.  I think some of these things are given to us as rewards in this life some of the time, but all of these things will be given to all of God's people in the coming Kingdom all of the time.  Therefore, I think this is better to think of as a promise for the future than to get caught up in the prosperity gospel here and now, even though there are clear examples in Scripture where the LORD chose to reward and bless people in the here-and-now, we see clear examples where He also chose not to do so and told people to wait for their reward in heaven.

The path that the wicked walks is full of traps, snares, and "thorns" that will tear you to pieces.  Thorns in particular make us think back to the curse of sin and how the ground would naturally produce thorns and thistles after the Fall (it did not do this before the Fall), and this made Adam's job harder as these weeds, thorns, and thistles tried to choke out the good plants that Adam was trying to grow.  These thorns are not necessarily of our own doing--they are just there as part of the Curse and will tear us up if play around in them or get unnecessarily close them.  It seems like the Bible indicates that one day all these thorns and thistles will be burned up the with fiery judgment of God's wrath and we will never have to worry about them anymore.  I look forward to that Day and that Place which is being prepared for us who belong to Jesus.