Proverbs Chapter 11

Proverbs 11:24 (NKJV)
"There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty."

The principle given to us in this verse is an age old piece of wisdom that is found all throughout the Scriptures. It is a principle that applies to every area of giving whether it be storehouse giving (tithing), giving to people in need, or giving to groups or organizations that help those in need. It is a principle in paradox. It is contrary to worldly wisdom for life and business. The world says to store up what is yours whereas the Bible says to give it away. The world says to look out for "Number 1" but the Bible says to look to the welfare of others. This is not to say that everyone who gives or scatters will become wealthy. Nor will everyone who holds back become poor. The point of this verse and other teachings about giving is that we should be givers.

Solomon repeats this teaching in various ways in his writings. In Ecclesiastes 11:1 he says to cast your bread upon the waters and it will come back to you.

In Luke 6:38 Jesus said "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom……"

Paul put it this way in 2 Cor 9:6... "He which sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which sows bountifully shall reap also bountifully."

As we ponder this principle of giving and receiving we should consider these four simple truths. First, we should never, ever give just to get. We give simply to be giving. Second, the principle of giving does not apply only to giving out of our abundance. Remember that Jesus commended the poor widow in Mark 12:44. When she gave her small offering it was deemed greater than all the others because it was everything she had. Third, let us consider that in the principle of giving and receiving, we are not promised to reap the exact same thing we sow. Giving of money will not necessarily result in reaping more money. We give and trust God for the resulting harvest. Lastly we need to consider that our giving need not only be from our possessions and financial resources. Sometimes the greatest gift we can give is to give of ourselves. We may not have much money. We may not be rich in personal possessions. But we all have ourselves.

I urge you to take a fresh look at your giving. What do you give? How do you give it? Give cheerfully. Give sacrificially. Give of your resources. Give of yourself. Be a giver and let God bless you with a great return.

Proverbs Chapter 10

Proverbs 10:9
“He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.”

One of the greatest needs or desires that we as humans have is the need or desire to feel secure or safe. And one of the greatest areas we want to feel this security in is how we are seen by those around us. We want to be liked, respected and loved. We try to hide our weakness and failures so that others will not think less of us. I think Solomon probably had this this desire in mind as he penned Proverbs 10:9.

To “walk uprightly” is to carry yourself with complete integrity. To have complete integrity is not the same as being perfect and for that we can be truly thankful! A person who “walks uprightly” is honest; he adheres to ethical principles; and has sound moral character. Integrity is much sought after character trait in every area of business and life.

Solomon tells us that the person who walks in integrity does so “surely“, or with confidence and assurance. The contrast to this is the person who “perverts” his ways or the way he should live. To pervert is to twist or make crooked something moral, ethical or legal. The verse says that this person shall be exposed or found out.

Have you ever noticed that a person of great integrity is a person of calm assurance? Why is this? Because he has nothing to hide. On the other hand a person who lacks honesty and integrity lives in fear that he may be found out. He has twisted that which is moral, ethical or legal and he knows it was wrong to do so. I remember an inmate who once told me that he was serving 4 years for bank robbery. His story illustrates the truth of this verse. His family was in severe financial distress. His son desperately needed medical care. In his mind he felt justified to steal in order to care for his family’s needs. He successfully stole over $4000 from the bank. He made a “clean” getaway. No one was able to describe him or his vehicle. There was literally no evidence against him for the crime. The police were stymied in the search for a suspect. He told me that from the time he “got away” with the crime he had not even a moment of peace. He was continually looking over his shoulder. Wondering when the police would catch up to him. This went on for over two years until he could no longer stand it and he finally gave himself up to the police.

Don’t live in fear of being found out. Walk uprightly. Walk in assurance and confidence that you are right with God. And know that even when you fail, there is grace and mercy in Jesus Christ. We need only to repent of the “perverted way” and ask for His forgiveness. He stands ready, willing and able to forgive and restore us fully to the “upright walk“.

Proverbs Chapter 9

Proverbs 9:8
“Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.”

In this verse the words "reprove" and "rebuke" are the same word. The basic idea of the word is to convince someone of the wrongfulness of their moral standing, their behavior or their actions and then correct them. Ideally, this act of correction should be coupled with love and concern for the one being rebuked.

Even when the process of correction is dispensed properly there are those who will not take it well. The Bible calls these people foolish or scorners. The fool tends to “hate” the person giving rebuke. He considers the “corrector” as the enemy. On the other hand the wise man readily accepts correction and will love the one correcting him.

Over the course of my life as a restaurant manager, a Marine sergeant, a prison guard and a father of six children, I have had many an occasion to give instruction or reprove those under my charge or care. Over that time I have seen the stark contrast between the rebuke of a wise man and the rebuke of the scorner or fool. I have also been on the receiving end of rebuke and correction. And at times I have played both the “fool” and the “wise”.

When I was in the Marine Corps I traveled to several foreign countries and spent a lot of time in the field for war-training exercises. The strain on my dear wife was tremendous. We had young children whom she was basically raising by herself. When I was home I just wanted to coast, kick back and relax. I figured that if my wife was doing well while I was gone then she would do fine taking care of things while I was home. Great reasoning, huh? To put it plainly… I was being plum stupid!

During that time we were members of a small Baptist church and I remember the Pastor sitting me down one day for a heart-to-heart talk. He saw how my attitude was affecting my family and in no uncertain terms told me it was time to buck up, be a man and to be there for my wife when I was home. It wasn’t easy to hear from another man that I was basically failing in my job as a husband and father. My first instinct was to be a fool and to scorn his instruction. However, by God’s grace I acted wisely and accepted the rebuke. I started taking my “job” as a husband and a father more seriously. The course of my life as a man changed that day.

I urge you to accept rebuke as a wise man not a fool. Accept wise correction and be even wiser. Accept wise teaching and increase your learning. Listen to Wisdom’s call. Walk in Wisdom’s ways. Let Wisdom be your teacher and be blessed!

Proverbs Chapter 8

Proverbs 8:19
“My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.”

We are living in economic times that are less than certain. Many have lost fortunes in the stock market. Folks who bought homes just a couple of years ago to turn around for profit are stuck with houses they don’t want and can’t afford. Those closing in on their retirement years are questioning whether they will be able to afford to actually retire. For some putting food on the table and gas in the car are daily worries.

Listening to financial experts try to explain the economic woes can make your head spin. The problems, reasons, and solutions for them are complex and quite frankly beyond any one person’s ability to control. If we can’t understand the problems or the solutions then what hope is there for a wise investment?

Proverbs 8 assures us there is a worthy and wise investment we can all make. It isn’t in gold, silver or precious jewels. Our investment needs to be in the “wisdom market”. Wisdom Personified makes it clear that an investment in wisdom brings a great return.

Let’s consider this investment and the returns. We invest in wisdom by listening to, searching for and then obeying it. And the returns are better than fine gold or choice silver. Here are just a few named in Proverbs 8: knowledge, prudence, understanding, eternal riches, righteousness and life. And the prospectus for this investment (found in verses 22-31) is quite impressive.

We have an outstanding prospectus, a wise investment solution and guaranteed returns. What more could we ask for? I encourage you to invest in “wisdom”. Hear her cry, seek her out and heed her instructions.

Proverbs Chapter 7

Proverbs 7:3
"Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart."

Solomon spends a lot of time writing to his son about commandments, law, wisdom and understanding. Educated guess here….It must be very important to Solomon that his son have these as a part of his life so as to be able to resist the temptation to fall sin, and in particular sexual sin.

This is the 3rd time in the first seven chapters that Solomon has used this word “bind”. To bind is to tie something up or to connect one thing with another by tying. It is also used in the OT for two groups or men conspiring together or forming an alliance in order to achieve a common goal. In chapter 3 we are told to bind mercy and truth around our neck and write them on our heart. In chapter 6 it says to bind the commandments on our heart and tie them around our neck. Here in 7:3 Solomon says to bind the commandments on your fingers and write them upon the table of your heart. He also says in verse two to guard his law as you would your own eye. The apple of the eye refers to the pupil without which we could not see.

It is interesting that Solomon connects the law with the eyes, the fingers, and the heart. He knows that if his son were to fall into temptation it would be by what he saw, what he did, or what he thought. This sounds very much like what John tells us in 1 John 2:16 about the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. We must keep God’s Word in our eyes, on our hands and written down on our hearts so that we don’t follow the path of the simple young man Solomon describes in the rest of this chapter.

So what if you’ve already followed the path of sin like the simple young man did? Maybe sin’s allure has enticed you and you have fallen. The answer is now as it has always been…Jesus Christ. Turn to Him and He will forgive. Turn to Him and He can heal your hurting soul. Turn to Him and let Him wash you “white as snow”. Get into His Word daily. Guard it like you would your own eye. Bind it on your fingers. Write it on your heart. Gain wisdom, knowledge and understanding from it. Allow Jesus Christ through His Word to literally change your life.

Proverbs Chapter 6

Proverbs 6:23
"For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:"

The benefits of the Word of God in the life of the believer are endless. In our verse for this week Solomon lists three ways that God’s Word (commandments, law, reproofs) works in our lives.

The first is as a lamp. As we walk through this dark world in which we live, His Word serves as light by which to travel. It illuminates our path. As we hold it up we can see the dangers, turns and roadblocks as we encounter them. As a US Marine I remember many a time in night training that I had to walk around in pitch black darkness. Were it not for the lamp I carried I could have easily wandered off the path and become lost. I could have fallen into ditches, been tripped by obstacles in the path, or been injured by low hanging tree branches. Another purpose for a lamp is to serve as a beacon. Picture a weary hiker who has become lost in the woods. He tops a hill and sees a light in the distance. He rejoices because he knows that the light means warmth, food, and safety. He can now direct his steps toward the direction of that light. God’s Word is the light for our path and the beacon to follow.

God’s Word also serves the purpose of being an inner light. In His Word we see who God is. We see His glory, His nature, His character, and His eternal purpose. We also see ourselves for who we really are. His Word sheds light on our inner-most being. Every detail of our sinful human nature is revealed. And in the midst of what would appear to be a gulf to great to cross we can also see hope in a hopeless situation. That hope is found in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross. He bridged the gap between God’s glory and man’s sinfulness.

The third purpose listed here of His Word in our lives is to provide correctional instruction. Everyone who has piloted a plane, sailed a boat or even driven a car knows that without constant small corrections the plane, boat or car will drift off course. So God’s Word is in the life of His followers. We walk down the path of life, start to drift off course, find correction in His Word, apply that correction, get back on course, drift off again, correct again and so it goes on and on. His Word keeps us on the straight path of life.

Here’s the rub. For any of these purposes to be activated in our lives we must be in His Word. We must hear it, read it, study it, memorize it, and meditate on it. Mostly however, we must obey it. If we will make the truths of His Word a regular part of our lives then it will illuminate our path, enlighten our soul and correct our way.

Proverbs Chapter 5

Proverbs 5:22
"His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins."

Chapter five of Proverbs deals primarily with sexual sin and immorality. Solomon exhorts his son to heed his warnings and teachings about strange, loose or immoral women. I think we can stay true to the Scriptures and broaden the application of the principles of wisdom Solomon gives to his son. In particular, verse 22 speaks about the tremendous power sin can have over the person whose lifestyle is wrapped up in it.

There are two words used to describe “sin” in verse 22. The first “his own iniquities”, by the context, strongly conveys the idea of deliberately twisting or perverting that which is right and moral. This is not the type of sin that “overtakes” a person. This is what occurs when we choose to willfully give in to temptation. Eventually this sin will “take“ or “captured” us like a city is captured by an invading army or an animal is captured by a skillful hunter. The invading army plans a long siege. The hunter patiently tracks his game until it is taken. We can deceived in thinking that we can continually choose to sin without regard for the consequences. We may think we can choose at any time not to sin but in our constant and willful disregard for God’s ways we will eventually become captive to our sinful choices.

The second word for “sin” is, interestingly, used to describe Cain‘s fight with sin in Genesis 4:7. Cain was told that if he chose to do wrong then sin was “lurking at the door” ready to pounce on him. Picture a robber or mugger who lurks in dark places waiting for a victim to come his way. He pounces on the victim. He beats him and binds him. He can then easily rob him of his valuable possessions. If we walk the path of sin we will become the victim of sin. We will be beaten, bound and robbed by it.

Solomon tells his son and us how to avoid sexual sin, and by extension to avoid sin in general. He tells us to gain wisdom, knowledge and discretion; To learn to recognize the strange, immoral woman and the danger she represents; And to avoid going down the path that leads to her door.

Thanks be to God that those who find themselves captured and bound by sin need not stay captured and bound. If we will confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive. Jesus Christ sits willing and able to free us from the bonds of sin. Isaiah 61:1 says that He is come to proclaim liberty to the captive and free those that are bound. What joy it is to be free from the bondage of sin! He wants to set you free. Walk in that freedom today!

Proverbs Chapter 4

Proverbs 4:23
"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."

The medical experts tell us that heart disease remains the number one killer in the US with over 900,000 dying annually of some form of this terrible disease. Yet still they say that many if not most Americans pay little attention to the health of their heart. What a tragic way to die in light of the fact that much of the heart disease that Americans die from can be prevented with changes in lifestyle and eating habits that keep our hearts healthy.

The Scriptural metaphor in this verse is uncannily accurate. A healthy heart keeps oxygen rich, life-giving blood flowing through the body. It nourishes every organ in the body and keeps it functioning properly. When this “flow of life” is interrupted it causes a number of health problems and can lead to death of the body. The spiritual heart is the seat of the Lord in the lives of believers. Out of our spiritual heart flows “the issues of life”. The energy and power to live the victorious Christian life are dependent on a healthy heart.

This idea of guarding one’s heart is so important that the writer of the Proverb uses two different words for “guard” in the first part of the verse. To keep our heart is to set a watch on it; to maintain or protect something entrusted to us. In modern terms it would be like what a person does with his well-used automobile. He must perform regular tune-ups, oil changes, tire rotations and other routine maintenance items so as to keep it running smoothly. The second word for “guard” translated “all diligence” is a noun referring to a guard like a military person guarding his post or a prison guard retaining custody of his ward. Both of these figures must hold a high degree of alertness at all times. Their jobs and sometimes their very lives depend on this alertness.

Throughout chapter 4 the writer gives us some very important admonitions to help us in guarding our heart. Again, the metaphor is clear. If we don’t “guard our heart and guard it well”, we will end up with a heart that functions at less than its intended capacity and our spiritual lives will suffer. Keep the life giving energy and power flowing. Protect your spiritual heart by diligently watching what comes into it. Guard your heart!!

Proverbs Chapter 3

Proverbs 3:19
"The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens."

Years ago I built a house for my family. Most of it I did with my own two hands and a lot of sweat and blood. But the one thing I would not do myself was to pour the foundation. I wanted it to be the very best foundation so I hired the very best to do that most vital part of the entire project. Foundations are the most important aspect of any building project. This includes not only the building of houses or other large structures. It also is true of families, businesses, and governments. The stronger and more secure the foundation, the greater the chance of the “building” standing strong through any kind of stormy weather or hardship.

Genesis chapter one is “foundational” to the entire Scriptures and indeed, even to Christianity. And it is a strong foundation. “In the beginning GOD…..” Everything we as Christians believe, all our theology and our very outlook on life itself is shaped by how we view these four short words. If we cannot trust in the first four words of the Holy Scriptures, how much faith can we have in the rest of the Scriptures? Praise God we can fully trust His Word. All of it! We can trust it in Salvation, in matters of life and death and in matters of eternity. We can trust His Word for building a family, for building our business and for building a Godly life. And we can trust His Word as it relates to the Creation of our world.

Our verse this week in Proverbs 3 deals directly with this foundational issue. In His wisdom and understanding He founded or “laid the foundation” for our world and set the heavens in place. And what an amazing bit of wisdom it was! From the intricacy of the workings of a microscopic cell, to the precise balance of the earth’s position relative to the sun and other planets. From the ways of love between a man and a woman to the interactive ways of an ecological system. From the awesome splendor of snowcapped peaks to the vastness of the rolling ocean waves. All of it is amazing! All of it was and is created by the All-Wise God.

The thing that really puts the icing on the cake is that we can know this All-Wise God in a personal way through His Son Jesus Christ! In fact that is His plan. That we would know His only begotten Son and through His Son we would know Him. The Creator of Genesis chapter one, in all His vast wisdom, wants to have a deep and personal relationship with the pinnacle of His Creation. And that pinnacle is you! He wants to know you. He wants you to experience not only the majesty of His creation but the wonder of His love and grace. He wants to call you His child. If you don’t know Him, won’t you place your faith and trust in Him today? Let Him be your foundation. And then let Him build something great on that foundation.

Proverbs Chapter 2

Proverbs 2:5
“Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.”

Osmosis is a biology or chemistry term that means a diffusion of molecules through a semi-permeable membrane from a place of higher concentration to a place of lower concentration until the concentration on both sides is equal.

In a less scientific sense it can mean the subtle, gradual and even unconscious assimilation of knowledge. A good example would be an American who learns to speak a foreign language by living long in a foreign land. He learns the language by “absorbing” it from those around him who speak the language naturally.

Many Christians seem to want to gain wisdom, knowledge and understanding by osmosis. Here in Proverbs Chapter 2 it is clear that these jewels cannot be attained by simple absorption. Verse 5 makes it clear that there are things we must do before we can truly understand the Fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. Verses 1-4 give us a list of 8 “must do” items.

We must receive His words. This word “receive” is used elsewhere to seize or grasp. Have you ever waved a $10 bill in front of a 9 year old? He will literally tear it out of your hand. This is the idea here of receiving His words.

We must hide His words in our hearts and minds. This implies there is something valuable in play here and our goal should be to hide it or store it up against days to come. When we read His Word we may not need it right now but we should hide it in our hearts for the day when that particular word is necessary.

We must incline our ear unto Wisdom. To incline our ear is to listen carefully or pay very close attention. It also implies that we hearken to what it is we hear. Wisdom is not always easy to hear but if we listen closely we can hear it.

We must apply our heart to understanding. The word apply means to stretch out. What a beautiful thing it is when a young child stretches out his arms toward his parents to receive their love. In this same way we should stretch out to receive understanding.

We must cry after knowledge and insight. We must lift up our voice to understanding. There is a deep earnestness in these words “cry” and “lift up”. God desires our earnest prayer and then rewards that earnest prayer with knowledge and understanding. How blessed we would be if our prayers centered around these jewels rather than the temporal things that most of us spend prayer time on.

We must seek her (wisdom, knowledge, understanding) as if she were silver. To seek is to strive diligently. Like the avid gold hunters of days gone by. They were almost consumed with their seeking after the precious metal.

Lastly we must search for her as if she were hidden treasures. If you have ever lost something valuable you will understand this idea. You will search all around initially and then slow down and think back to deduce where it may be. Where was it last? When did I see it? You search for it in your mind and by looking everywhere you think of until it is found.

Our verse today tells us that if we will do these 8 things; Receive, hide, incline, apply, cry, lift up, seek and search; then we can understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God!! May God bless us in this most Holy endeavor.

Overcoming Your Fear of Public Speaking

We are born to communicate. God is the Great communicator and we are made in His image. In Genesis chapter 1 He literally spoke the world into existence. John chapter 1 says “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” Since we are made in His image it stands to reason that we too are communicators. Somewhere along the line we lose the desire, misplace the ability, or develop a sense of fear (particularly of public speaking). Therefore, we are often not the communicators we have been created to be. Studies indicate that public speaking ranks among the highest of social phobias in this country. It is my contention that by and large this fear is developed not inherited. Listed here are seven strategies I have found helpful for overcoming the fear of public speaking that plagues so many people. I pray that one or more of these strategies will help you overcome your fear of utilizing that great gift God has given us -- to communicate.

1. Determine your speaking style and build on it.
By styles I mean that some are more comfortable speaking one-on-one. Others do well in group settings or small meetings. Some are OK with speaking if they are teaching while others are uninhibited when telling a story or being dramatic. Each of us have a style and we can use that style when speaking in public. If you are comfortable speaking to a person one-on-one then you will do best when speaking in public if you develop a conversational style. Find your own particular style and build on it. Use your strengths to overcome and build up our weaknesses. To find your style ask your friends and family. Study yourself. Try different styles. Eventually one of them will be obvious to you and others around you.

2. Establish a sense of mission/purpose
Having purpose if vital to human beings. Many who commit suicide or contemplate suicide do so because they feel there is no purpose to life. Without purpose we are like a ship without a rudder. There is nothing to keep us moving in a well-defined direction. When speaking in public we should develop this sense of purpose or mission. What is it that drives you? Bringing people joy and laughter? Sharing truths of life with your fellow man? Purpose equals courage. You will want to fulfill that purpose even in the midst of your fear.

3. Have a proper focus
The three main components of any speaking situation are the speaker, the speech or message and the audience. Getting these in the wrong order of priority can cause a great deal of apprehension for the speaker. The order of priority should be this- the message, the audience, then the speaker. If we focus on ourselves we get nervous because we may fail. We may be dull, speak too fast, forget our points, lose track of the outline or even have our hair out of place. We begin to care greatly how the audience perceives us and if we don’t measure up to that mythical expectation we get nervous and afraid. If we focus on the audience we worry too much about that which we cannot control. As a speaker you have no control over what the audience thinks of you or your speech. Some will like it. Others will hate it. Still others may need more time to think about it. Either way the audiences reaction is by and large beyond your control. You must primarily focus on the message. What is it that you want to give the audience. If it’s important then give it your all and let the chips fall. The importance of the message you have to give should be so all-consuming that you have little room left for fear.

4. Be prepared but don’t over prepare
Any good speaker will prepare diligently for a presentation. Studies have shown that most good public speakers spend an average of 1 hour for each minute of a speech. This may seem like a lot but keep in mind that your audience wants to hear from an “expert”, so give them one. This is not to say that you will know everything about the topic of your speech but you should know what you know well and have evidence to back up your thoughts. I would encourage you to memorize only portions of the speech. The opening and conclusion should be well ingrained in your memory, as should significant stats and quotes. Writing them down on a handy index card that you can pull out if needed can be helpful. When preparing a speech try to prepare with your left brain which is analytical, logical and ordered. When presenting the speech use your right brain which is intuitive and creative. Do your homework when preparing but don’t be afraid to “let ‘er rip!” when giving the speech.

5. Use your nervous energy during delivery
Any speaker experiences some measure of nervousness or apprehension when standing up to speak. The difference between the novice and the experienced speaker is that the experienced speaker puts his nervous energy to work for him. Channel your energy into big, broad, expressive gestures. If possible, move with purpose around the speaking area. Use your voice effectively. Like the successful football coach who helps his team to channel their anger and aggression into toughness and success on the field so you must learn to channel your nervous energy and make it work for you not against you.

6. Speak on that which you know
This may seem obvious but it bears mentioning. Having a basic knowledge about your subject goes a long way toward helping you to overcome fear. To speak about something of which you know nothing is a disservice to the audience and yourself. The audience deserves your best and will most likely get it with a topic that is familiar to you. You can always add to your knowledge by research and study and well you should, but the deeper your knowledge the more easily the information will flow from you.

7. Speak on that for which you are passionate
In my opinion this is perhaps the best strategy for overcoming fear. Passion! If you are passionate about the topic of your speech the passion and excitement in you will overshadow much of your fear. There is a secondary benefit to passion as well. Passion will grip the hearts and minds of your audience like nothing else. The audience will sense the passion through your words, voice, expressions and body language. Some very experienced speakers may be able to fake passion, although most audiences will be able to sense the “fakeness”, but no one will miss the passion if it is genuine. Passion need not be displayed in a “jumping up and down like a cheerleader” fashion. It comes out in any emotion that comes from inside of you. So look inside yourself, find the topics of passion in you, and lose your fear in the passion.

Proverbs Chapter 1

October 20, 2008

Proverbs 1:7
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.“

What a tremendous verse! Simple, yet packed with nourishment for the Christian who takes this Word to heart.

We often hear the term “Fear the Lord”. What does this mean? Simply put it means to reverence God. But lets take a closer look at the idea of “Fear the Lord”.

To “Fear God” is to be established in His Word (Psalm 119:38). Job equates the “Fear of the Lord” with departing from evil (Job 28:28). To “Fear God” is to focus on Him solely and not on our problems (Job 6:14), or on those around us whom we might want to envy (Proverbs 23:17). In the “Fear of the Lord” there is safety, strength and confidence (Proverbs 14:26). The “Fear of the Lord” will bring peace and contentment to the soul (Proverbs 19:23).

As we can see in these few verses, to “Fear the Lord” is a very good thing for the Believer. It is not a burden to bear or an act to shy away from. In fact, the next phrase in our verse says that it is the beginning of knowledge. Appropriately, this word “beginning” is the very first word in the Bible. It refers to the absolute beginning, the point from which something starts and all else follows, the foundation.

Putting it all together we see that there can be no real knowledge without first having a deep reverence or “fear” of Almighty God. We must “Fear God” in order to have a proper foundation on which to build knowledge. Only as we focus our hearts on Him and turn from our wicked ways can we find peace, safety, confidence, joy and KNOWLEDGE.

Verses 20-29 in Proverbs 1 give us a very bleak picture of what happens to those who refuse to “Fear the Lord” and therefore hate knowledge and instruction. There is calamity, fear, desolation, destruction, distress, anguish and hopelessness.

May we be of those who experience God’s goodness and blessing as we truly learn to “Fear Him.”

A Journey Through Proverbs

Dear Reader,

As we begin our weekly journey through Proverbs it is my prayer that you will be blessed by what is written here. But more so, I pray that you will take time to read the entire chapter of the Proverb of the week each day and ask God to speak to you through it. And I challenge you to memorize the weekly verse or another verse from the chapter that really speaks to you. Hide it in your heart. Meditate on it. Make the timeless wisdom of the Proverbs a part of your life. If you are blessed by your meditation in Proverbs, take a moment to share it with the rest of us. Someone else may need the insight God gives you from your daily meditation. May God bless you!

Wally Long