The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning and the principal and choice part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence]; but fools despise skillful and godly Wisdom, instruction, and discipline. Proverbs 1:7 AMPC
Context and Charge:
It's quite instructive that the book of Proverbs starts with a tribute to wisdom or knowledge, depending on the version you pick. Solomon the son of David, the king of Israel, is credited with almost 98% of the book. He would know the value of wisdom and knowledge, because he was privileged to receive the original versions from the real source, which is God. If I am sincerely seeking righteousness and truth, God is the true source. When you have had an encounter with this God, your life never remains the same. When He has shown you a side of Him, you can't but bow down in adoration and worship. I may not be able to explain why the world is the way it is,
but I can seek God out for myself: seek to know Him, know His ways and follow Him. The benefits and blessings from this experience will definitely change me, then change the world around me.
Why is the fear of God so important? It is because it is the key to all other blessings and benefits from God. The world will teach us that fear is a bad thing, but when it comes to God, it is a good thing to have the right kind of fear. I note that the verse above says the fear of God is the beginning of the process. It would mean that once the fear of God is in place, then other things must follow. The fear of God has fruit; I can't claim to have it and there will not be any evidence of it in my life. The verse also calls the fear of God the principal and choice part of knowledge. No matter what else you have, until the fear of God is in place, you do not yet have anything of value. I also note that by nature, all of us must fear someone or something. That which you submit to will rule your life and determine your eternity. If it is God, it will end well. The opposite is also true.
Conviction and Conclusion:
If you don't fear God, you will fear something or someone else. The heart is such a delicate organ; so many things will impact the heart and seek to make an impression, but I must be careful what I allow to take root. If you have no fear of God, today's verse calls you a fool. You can say whatever you want, but if you do not make room for the fear of God, you will have no room for wisdom, instruction and discipline. It cannot be faked. You cannot get it by ignoring the source, and you will not go far in life without his help. Whatever it is that I despise cannot turn around and bless me. And as we know, in the spiritual, there is no sitting on the fence, because there is none. You either fear God, or the world. As always, the choice is ours to make, along with its eternal consequences. God's time of favour is here.
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