Today is the day that we start getting into some of the individual Proverbs, and what better place to start than Proverbs 1:7. This Proverb states, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction." Right away, this verse brings to my mind the words of Psalm 14:1 that tell us, "The fool has said in his heart there is no god."
If a person is going to have true knowledge and wisdom as he or she goes through this world, it has to all start with the fear of the Lord. What does it mean to fear the Lord? It does not mean that we cower in terror at the Lord. It means first of all that we recognize that there is a God and that following His way is the way that leads to knowledge and to life. Fearing the Lord means honoring Him for who He is. He is the creator and the sustainer of all that exists. He is the one who has given life. He is the judge, and He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. I also believe that fearing the Lord means that we honor Him by doing what He has instructed us to do in His Word. We need to read the Bible and do the things that God has commanded. Ultimately, God has spoken to us in His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. We are to look to Him and follow Him wherever He leads. This is the way that we will have the knowledge and the wisdom that we need to make it through this world and on into eternity.
The Bible says that people are foolish who do not acknowledge and fear the Lord. Paul tells us in Romans 1:22 that there are those who claim to be wise, but in reality they are fools. Why? Because they do not honor God and His ways. They believe that their own wisdom is superior to that of the King of the Universe. A person that will not honor God and His ways may be very smart, but that person does not have the true wisdom that leads to eternal life and reward.
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