TEXT:
‘Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord all the day long’ (Proverbs 23:17 AMPC).
The Bible says, ‘The fear of man brings a snare’ (Proverbs 29:25). How many of us have experienced that in some form or another?
The Book of Proverbs also mentions another fear, “The Fear of the Lord” several times. These references show what godly fear can achieve, working in us and for us. ‘Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God’ (Proverbs 2:5 NLT). Hopefully, Today’s Teaching will help us to do just that.
The “Fear” mentioned means reverential awe, recognising God for who He is and what He stands for. Jesus taught us to pray on this basis, ‘Our Father in heaven, we honour your holy name’ (Matthew 6:9 TLB).
1. The Fear of the Lord is Informative
A. It’s the beginning of knowledge – ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge’ (Proverbs 1:7)
Man wants to know about anything and everything, but often fails to include God in that quest. ‘Then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God’ (Proverbs 2:5). Godly fear helps us to discover what God is really like and that knowledge keeps everything else in perspective.
B. It’s the beginning of wisdom – ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding’ (Proverbs 9:10).
Knowledge helps us to know what to do, whereas wisdom helps us to know when to do it! When we fear the God who knows everything about everything, He can impart that knowledge and wisdom to us. When we don’t know what to do, He does!
2. The Fear of the Lord acts like a Preservative – ‘Through the fear of the Lord evil is avoided’ (Proverbs 16:6 NIV)
A. In our Attitude – ‘If anyone respects and fears God, he will hate evil. For wisdom hates pride, arrogance, corruption, and deceit of every kind’ (Proverbs 8:13 TLB)
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and we see how God’s wisdom thinks. It does not like pride, arrogance, corruption and deceit. Godly fear helps us in our thought processes, not just to avoid the negative but to focus on the positive.
B. In our Actions – ‘Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil’ (Proverbs 3:7 NLT)
Jesus urged people not to act like the Pharisees, ‘So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example, for they don’t practice what they teach’ (Matthew 23:3 NLT). The saying goes, “Actions speak louder than words!” ‘Whoever fears the Lord walks uprightly’ (Proverbs 14:2 NIV).
These scriptures make it abundantly clear that the fear of the Lord has a sanctifying effect on our lives, which is well-pleasing to God.
3. The Fear of the Lord is beneficial
So often people only focus on what they perceive are the negatives of Christianity, “You can’t do this or that!” But reverencing God is a healthy fear that benefits rather than damages our lives. It releases us rather than being restrictive.
A. Strong Confidence – ‘In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence’ (Proverbs 14:26)
This echoes, ‘If God is for us, who can be against us?’ (Romans 8:31). We can’t help but feel confident, knowing God is on our side and working all things together for our good.
B. A Fountain of Life – ‘The Fear-of-God is a spring of living water so you won’t go off drinking from poisoned wells’ (Proverbs 14:27 MSG)
God’s complaint against Israel was, ‘They have forsaken me, the Fountain of living waters’ (Jeremiah 2:13 TLB). We think we can satisfy ourselves with the wrong kind of water but Jesus explained to the woman at the well, ‘Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life’ (John 4:13-14 NLT). No wonder the woman replied, “Give me this water”.
C. A Long Life – ‘The fear of the Lord adds length to life’ (Proverbs 10:27 NIV)
Through godly fear we can live happier, healthier and longer lives. If honouring our father and mother can lengthen our lives (See Deuteronomy 5:16), how much more when we fear the Lord?
The fear of man drains us but the fear of the Lord puts a spring in our step because ‘Fear of the Lord leads to life, bringing security and protection from harm’ (Proverbs 19:23 NLT). ‘True humility and fear of the Lord lead to riches, honour, and long life’ (Proverbs 22:4 NLT). The world may pity or despise us as Christians but in the end we are always better off than those with no faith in Jesus. After all He gives us eternal life!
D. Contentment – ‘A simple life in the Fear-of-God is better than a rich life with a ton of headaches’ (Proverbs 15:16 MSG)
Our focus in life changes from continually wanting things, to being thankful for what we do have because, ‘Godliness with contentment is great gain’ (1 Timothy 6:6).
Every day we make choices, some of which may be wrong, but don’t make the mistake of not fearing the Lord as some have done, ‘For you closed your eyes to the facts and did not choose to reverence and trust the Lord’ (Proverbs 1:29 TLB). Only you can make the right choices but God will honour you when you do!
Recent Comments