“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you.” – Proverbs 9:10-12
The emotion of fear usually carries a negative connotation…
“A feeling of anxiety concerning the outcome of something, or the safety and well-being of someone.”
“An unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous.”
And yet, there are instances when fear is beneficial. Fear can keep us from making foolish or deadly decisions. Fear can be a motivator to drive safely, to make healthy choices with our body, and to protect our children from potential harm.
I had a healthy fear of my parents growing up. They said what they meant, and they meant what they said. If I disobeyed them or made an unwise decision, I received a consequence. I rarely got in trouble at school, but when I did, I was far more concerned with the repercussion that awaited me at home.
While growing up, I had no doubt who was in charge of my household. I was deeply loved, protected, and cherished, but I knew with certainty that my parents maintained control of the helm of our family’s ship.
My parents set rules and boundaries for my protection. The healthy fear I had of my parents was blended with respect and reverence; I did not fear them in the sense that I was afraid of them or that I lived in a constant state of fear.
Having a healthy fear of my parents meant that I had to trust they had my best interests at heart in every decision they made and in every consequence they provided. I had to acknowledge – even if begrudgingly, especially during my teenage years – they were wiser and more experienced than me.
Throughout Scripture, we learn that God created boundaries for many purposes – to distinguish night and day, to differentiate regions of land, and to foster healthy relationships. Interestingly, statistics show that children with strong mental health have parents who set clear rules and expectations while providing explanations and rationale.
Boundaries are placed not so that people will live in fear, but rather so they will be protected and secure.
If we do not fear the Lord, then we run the risk of fearing nothing and everything, all at the same time.
If we either do not believe God exists or if we do not believe in His authority over our lives, then we will fear nothing. We will become our own gods. We will believe that the rules of life do not apply to us. We will believe we are above reproach. We will become un-coachable and unmanageable. We will struggle to maintain stability and relationships. We will live a life of recklessness and chaos.
Conversely, if we do not trust in God’s providence over our lives or do not believe that He loves us, then we will fear everything. We will bend our knee to appease the world’s opinion. We will act and react out of impulse and panic. We will be driven by emotions and feelings. We will do these things to try to have some semblance of control over our lives. We will never truly experience peace.
Those who fear the Lord do not live paralyzed by the commotion of the world or the indecisiveness of man. In Psalm 27:1, King David declares, “The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?”
Those who fear the Lord deepen their relationship with the Father. God bestows wisdom and insight onto those who esteem Him and are obedient to His will. Psalm 25:12-14 says, “Who, then, are those who fear the Lord? He will instruct them in the ways they should choose. They will spend their days in prosperity, and their descendants will inherit the land. The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.”
The more I listened to and obeyed my parents while growing up, the more they trusted me. The more they trusted me, the more they confided in me.
Imagine, through a relationship of healthy fear and respect, gaining the confidence of the Creator of the universe? Imagine the Father trusting us enough to reveal His wisdom and knowledge to us?
In a world that increasingly discourages reverence and respect for those in authority, believers have an opportunity to demonstrate the power and influence we hold through our healthy fear of God. Proverbs 22:4 reminds us, “The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honor, and life.”
In nurturing this fear of the Lord, we align ourselves with His divine purpose and experience His blessings firsthand. Let us dedicate ourselves to walking in His ways and trusting in His promises.