A Godly Attribute

I am persuaded that one of the missing ingredients in the world in which we live is Godly fear.  Yet the Bible is not silent on this subject.  The book of Proverbs, God’s wisdom book for practical living, is full of references to this indispensable attribute.  As a Christian we need to live a life of Godly fear.  Let’s find out what the fear of God (fear of the Lord) is and how we develop it.


To properly define and understand the fear of the Lord we must go to the Bible.  As we stated the book of Proverbs is a study in the fear of the Lord.  In it we find the answers for which we are looking.


Proverbs 2:1-5 “My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; 2So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; 3Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; 4If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; 5Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.”   (Bold lettering and italics added by author)


Does that describe you?  Are you crying after knowledge and lifting your voice for understanding?  When you seek after God’s wisdom as you would a buried treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord.  


The fear of the Lord is the first or starting point.  In order to finish the race you must start.  And no one should start anywhere but at the starting line or beginning. With the great revival of the teaching of God’s Word that we have seen in the last forty years there is a desire for more knowledge and wisdom. We are admonished to seek after wisdom and get knowledge with understanding.  However, many have not seen what comes first.


Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”  
Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”  


Before knowledge comes the fear of the Lord.  Before wisdom comes the fear of the Lord.  Or we may say it this way; the first knowledge and wisdom to gain is in the fear of the Lord.  The fear of the Lord is the foundation upon which all knowledge and wisdom finds its stability.  The Hebrew literally says that the fear of the Lord is the principle part of knowledge and wisdom.


So, let’s define the fear of the Lord.  There are many definitions given and all of them have merit.  There are two that speak to me:

• A holy reverence and awe of His presence and trembling at His Word
• Love what God loves and hate what God hates

Proverbs 8:13 “The Fear-of-GOD means hating Evil, whose ways I hate with a passion-- pride and arrogance and crooked talk.” – Message 


Ask yourself these questions to see where you are in fear of the Lord:

1. When God’s Word is being preached am I excited?
2. What do I treasure?
3. Do I hate evil but the person doing it?
4. Am I asking for wisdom, revelation, and knowledge without going to the Word of God?

As you begin to have healthy Fear of The Lord, your walk with God will fall into the place it was always meant to, real relationship. You will learn & grow as a believer. 

- Gregurich Ministries

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