The Fear of the Lord: A Foundation for Life
PROVERBS 1:7: “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
As humans and good Christians, the fear of God is one thing we must have. Without God, we are nothing, and our existence doesn’t matter. To show us how important the fear of God is, it is mentioned in different places in the Bible: Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 15:33, and the book of Deuteronomy, to mention a few. Fearing the Lord helps us understand who God truly is.
The fear of God inspires us to love him. Having the fear of God is closely related to our love for God. Deuteronomy chapter 6 vs. 5 says: “5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” This Bible text commands Christians to love God with all their hearts, souls, and might. Therefore refusal to fear God is tantamount to not loving him.
When we fear the Lord, we gain wisdom. our perspective enlarges so we can see how much we need God. Also, Seeing the wonder of God’s awesome power and holiness opens our eyes spiritually.
In biblical terms, a fool is morally deficient, often characterised by a disregard for God and His ways. This verse sets up the overarching theme of Proverbs, which encourages readers to seek wisdom by first acknowledging and revering God while warning against the folly of ignoring divine instruction.
Do you ever wonder why people do things the way they do sometimes? using God’s name to deceive people and other things. This is because they lack “the fear of God in them,” and anyone who lacks fear of God will probably meet a destructive end. We must cultivate a deep respect for God and his ways by studying the word and spending time in prayer because there are punishments incurred from rejecting God’s wisdom.
Fearing the Lord is not about being terrified of Him but rather about recognising His power, goodness, and authority and responding to that with humility and obedience. To qualify as righteous Christians, we need to have the fear of God. Recognising God’s infinite power and holiness motivates us to live in a way that pleases God.
Furthermore, the fear of God brings peace. When we truly love God and trust in his plans and grace, we can find even in tribulations. The fear of God is above everything else. If we find peace in God, we are automatically connected to his grace.
Finally, fearing the Lord is about living a life that honours God through obedience, humility, and reverence. It’s about recognising His place as God and our place as His creation, leading us to live in a way that reflects His holiness and love.
READ: Obedience in Faith: Biblical Examples and Life Lessons
Content Credit| Ajibola Emmanuel Adebayo
Picture Credit | https://www.pinterest.com/pin/755478906273012210/
https://www.onlineprayerjournal.com/blogs/daily-sword-blog/proverbs-2529-fear-god-or-fear-man.html
