Beginning of Wisdom

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.”

Proverbs 9:10

^“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”

“Fear” here is commonly replaced with “respect”. I believe it to be so much more

I “respect” my parents, but I do not “fear” them. They love me and I’ve seen that over and over the last 2- years.

I “fear” God and I “respect” Him. I “fear” what He can do to me, should I do something against His will deliberately. I respect His authority to punish me in any way He sees fit. I know He loves me, for even longer than I’ve been alive.

If our actions were without consequence, or if consequences were never painful or permanent, then fear would be foolish. But our actions and reactions do indeed reap painful results in this present life as well as in eternity. We live under a law of sowing and reaping that is as certain and unrelenting as disease and death. One might forestall the day of reaping, but it always comes with the surety of an eternal lawgiver. If women never slump onto a couch and weep for their loss and loneliness, if children never curse their parents, if no one ever experiences shame and regret, then fear is foolish, and anyone who would promote it would be an enemy of humanity, But if our choices can bring us to miserable ends, then fear is the healthiest deterrent we can have. It is the beginning of wisdom. 

God says three times “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” (Ps.111:10, Prov.9:10, 1:7)

Anything God says three times is worth heeding. Watch out! Must of what you will read in this book was written to put the fear of God into you. I feel that if I can cause young wives to be aware that there are consequences to their actions, they may turn to God now and start sowing to the spirit, rather than to the flesh. By means of letters written to me and from real life examples, I am going to earnestly warn you about where poor choices will take you. 

No woman has ever been happy and fulfilled who neglected to obey God in regard to her role as a help meet. <— Tweet Me

Remember in the past weeks we’ve mentioned thanksgiving, joy and contentment? Have you been practicing them?

Think on this …..

As practice enables the pianist to find the right keys without effort or thought, so a woman who practices discontentment will, without thought, hit the notes of bitterness when her chain is pulled. Practicing, always practicing, perfecting her bitterness and discontentment.  

Photo Credit

Is that what we want to be remembered for?

Previous Posts in this Series

Introduction       Once Upon A Time        Mr. Right?       God Hasn’t Changed His Mind        A Merry Heart        Change Your Game Plan       A Thankful Spirit

Thanksgiving Produces Joy    The Gift of Wisdom