https://odb.org/2024/06/24/in-awe-of-god
Proverbs 9:10 teaches that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. The fear of God here means awe and respect, rather than bring scared or afraid like the Isrealites in Exodus 20:18 where they trembled with fear when they saw thunder and lightning at the time God gave Moses the Ten Commandments for the children of Israel.
The same way life takes a real meaning when we know God as taught by Solomon in Ecclesiastes, whose famous words were “vanity of vanities, all is vanity (meaningless)”, Solomon in Proverbs teaches that true wisdom is having the fear of God. In other words, the wisest thing any man can do is to know God and fear Him. Just knowing Him is not enough, we need to also fear Him.
The slight problem we have as believers in this post-Jesus era is that we might be too used to the grace of God that we sometimes forget Solomon’s teaching to fear Him. For example, God is a holy God. We need to be holy to face Him in prayer and supplication and worship. As much as we can not be 100% without sin as a human being and need the blood of Jesus to redeem and cleanse us, we must, with the power of the Holy Spirit, confess, repent and overcome our habitual sins. We can not live in the cycle of sin and confession day in and day out without true repentance, just because God is gracious. We need to fear God as much as we know He loves us.
Heed the advice of Solomon to fear God as it is the beginning of wisdom. Solomon chose wisdom instead of riches when given a choice by the LORD. But wisdom starts with the fear of God. Once we cultivate the latter, we will be blessed with the former! Have a good week ahead, everyone! May we become wiser as we exercise the fear of God in all that we do!
Ronnie's Thoughts 