April 9: The Fear of the Lord: Wisdom’s Starting Point

In a Nutshell

Continuing the theme of building our lives, Pastor Reuben highlighted humility and the fear of the Lord as key elements following faith and love. The fear of the Lord is presented not as terror, but as the essential starting point for gaining true wisdom.

Anchor Verse

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…” – Proverbs 9:10a (NKJV)

Unpacking the Word

Yesterday, we looked at humility as the posture for grace. Pastor Reuben linked humility closely with “the fear of the Lord,” stating that “by humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honor, and life.” While the sermon focused more on the fruit of the fear of the Lord – namely wisdom – understanding this foundational fear is crucial.

What is this “fear of the Lord”? It’s not about being scared of God in a way that makes us run from Him. Rather, it’s a profound reverence, awe, and respect for His holiness, power, and authority. It’s recognizing who He is and our position relative to Him. This reverence naturally leads to a hatred of evil (Proverbs 8:13) – hating what God hates and loving what He loves. It motivates obedience not out of dread of punishment, but out of a deep desire to honor and please Him.

The sermon explicitly connects this reverential fear to wisdom: “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” It’s the starting line. Without this foundational respect and awe for God, we cannot access the divine wisdom needed to build our lives well. This wisdom, as we’ll explore more tomorrow, is the “mind of Christ,” enabling us to navigate life’s complexities according to God’s perspective.

This fear fosters humility. When we truly grasp God’s majesty, our own pride shrinks. We become more teachable, more willing to submit to His ways, more aware of our need for His guidance. It protects us from presumption and foolishness. Pastor Reuben shared a poignant example of a famous person who fell, admitting they never stopped loving God but lost the fear of God, leading them to presume on His grace.

The fear of the Lord acts as a guardrail, keeping us on the path of righteousness. It prevents grace from becoming a cheap license to sin, reminding us of the consequences of disobedience and the beauty of holiness. It cultivates a desire not just to be forgiven, but to be transformed, to walk in ways that honor the awesome God we serve.

Cultivating the fear of the Lord means consciously choosing to live with an awareness of God’s presence and authority. It means prioritizing His Word, seeking His will, and quickly repenting when we stray. It’s the essential soil in which true, godly wisdom takes root and grows.

Pause and Reflect

1. How would you describe the “fear of the Lord” in your own words, based on your understanding? Is it more about awe and reverence, or something else?
2. In what ways does a healthy fear (reverence) of the Lord protect you from making foolish choices or presuming on His grace?
3. How does contemplating God’s majesty and holiness naturally cultivate humility in your heart?

Faith in Action

1. Spend a few minutes meditating on a passage describing God’s majesty (e.g., Psalm 145, Isaiah 6:1-5). Ask God to increase your sense of awe and reverence for Him.
2. Identify one area where you might be tempted to compromise or take God’s grace for granted. Pray for a renewed fear of the Lord in that specific area, leading to obedience.
3. Practice seeing situations through God’s perspective today. Before reacting, ask yourself: “What would honor God most in this situation?”

A Moment With God

Ask God to instill in you a deeper, healthier fear of the Lord – a profound reverence and awe that leads to wisdom and obedience. Pray that this reverence would guard your heart against sin and guide your steps in pleasing Him.

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