Wisdom Is The Fear Of The Lord
God alone is sovereign, and of course we can’t claim any responsibility here. But in order to experience and push through, we are expected to do more than just react.
The value of these glories is too holy, too precious, and, yes, it demands a price from us. Not because we could contribute anything to glory through our actions, but God wants to see if we are ready to risk everything when we have found the greatest treasure—Jesus. Then God rewards us with higher levels of glory.
Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man (John 2:23-25).
Many people believed in Jesus, but He did not entrust Himself to all of them. Do you want to be someone in whom Jesus confides? Then leave everything behind and follow Him, as His apostles did, whom He took into His confidence.
It’s not a very popular message these days, but the reward won’t be the same for everyone. Yes, salvation is something that all believers will have in common. But this is not the case with the reward, which will correspond to our work here on earth, the nature of which will be revealed by the fire of God.
Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire (1 Corinthians 3:12-15).
At this level of glory, we are no longer satisfied with salvation, redemption, and signs and wonders, even if this is more than we have ever deserved. And if salvation was the only thing that Jesus had bequeathed to us, it would of course be far more than we have ever deserved.
But because Jesus has given us so much more, because He is so wonderful and perfect, because He is worthy and because He is God, I do not want to be content with salvation but want to advance to further levels of glory so as to place the world at the feet of my Lord Jesus. I want to realize what a wonderful treasure I have found in Jesus and therefore be ready to give everything for it.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field (Matthew 13:44).
With your faith and salvation, you have already received a treasure; on the next levels of glory there are more incredible treasures, but they require everything we have. Is that frightening? It should not be, because Jesus promised us a hundredfold harvest even in this time (see Mark 10:30).
“Because He is so wonderful and perfect, I do not want to be content with salvation but want to advance to further levels of glory so as to place the world at the feet of my Lord Jesus.”
What Is Your Greatest Wish?
Once when I was again reading the story of Solomon and about how God appeared to him in a dream with a question and a lucrative offer, the Holy Spirit asked me what my choice would have been. I immediately thought of dozens of wishes, but in this case there was only one. So it should be well thought out. Because I have been consciously following Jesus for almost 20 years—and from the very beginning it was my heart’s desire and yearning to serve and please Him—I have come as far as to say that material things are not important enough for me to sacrifice such a wish for them.
As a Christian I thought of things like faith, peace, revelation, passion, or love. All these made perfect sense, and I definitely can’t have enough of them.
But because I had only one wish, I had to think it over. What would be the best thing for advancing the kingdom of God and giving God the greatest possible glory?
Finances are good in themselves and make it possible to build children’s homes or women’s shelters, hospitals, community buildings, schools, and much more. With finances, we could implement projects that we have on our hearts. We could create change in economically weak areas. The possibilities with sufficient finances seem endless.
But the heart of human beings seems to have its difficulties with vast amounts of material goods and tends to fall in love with money, and the love of money is the root of all evil. No, it is not finances. It has to be something that will allow God to bless me totally, but at the same time also protect me from setting my heart on money.
Maybe it is faith? Faith can move mountains. The Bible says, “all things are possible to him who believes.” That sounds great, because without faith it is also impossible to please God. The Bible talks about faith countless times; a vast number of books have been written about it, but would I choose faith?
After careful consideration, I concluded that it was not faith. Please don’t misunderstand me. Faith is wonderful, and I need much more of it. But I am concerned about the fact that people get used to faith and after a while it is no longer regarded as anything special; they even turn away from it and sometimes even fall away from it, although they have experienced the goodness of God so clearly in their lives. No, I don’t need faith, I need something that makes faith grow in me. Something that prevents me from taking faith for granted. Something to protect me from losing my faith. That’s what I’d choose if I had a wish.
But what is that? Is it revelation, perhaps? I thought about that, too. If I saw more of God, if I knew more about Him, if God revealed Himself to me and I learned more about Him, wouldn’t that be wonderful? So is revelation what I would choose if God asked me what I wish for?
I thought about Exodus 24:9-11, because for me this is one of the most incredible stories and experiences that anyone can have with God. God called Moses to the mountain. His brother Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and the 70 elders of Israel joined him. The Bible says that they saw God and ate and drank with Him.
That really wows me. I really get goosebumps when I think about it. What more can there be than seeing God? That’s what you want as a believer; it seems to be the final goal; can there be anything better? I would love to jump up and scream like a football commentator after the deciding goal has been scored in the final, “That’s it, that’s it!” That’s all there can be. There’s nothing more emotional than that.
But is that really what I would choose? The problem is not this experience we read about; it’s truly exceptional. As I mentioned in the previous chapter, the frightening part came afterward when the leaders of Israel, who had seen this wonderful God with their eyes and had eaten and drunk with Him, a short time later raised the golden calf and worshiped it as God and Savior. What? That can’t be true! To have such an experience and then to turn away! What you shouldn't think was possible really happened. Probably not more than 20 to 30 days after their encounter with God they betrayed Him. After such a revelation of God, they still did not remain faithful to Him.
We also see Adam and Eve, who saw God day after day and spent all the days of their lives with Him—and they too were unfaithful to God.
No, when I read about these events in the Bible, I have to say—I love and need revelation, but I would not choose it either. There must be something that allows me to see God and meet with Him, but without my denying Him or becoming unfaithful to Him. That’s what I would choose. But what is it?
As wonderful as it is to see God—this level of glory that I am seeking is one level higher; it is the foundation for the next four wonderful levels of glory. What is it? Is it wisdom, as Solomon chose? Oh, wisdom is wonderful, and I can’t have enough of it, but despite his wisdom Solomon distanced himself from God in his later years. So it can’t be wisdom either. It must be something that, despite wisdom and understanding, keeps me humble and does not let me forget that without God I am nothing.
What about love? It must be that, right? It’s the greatest gift of all! But then I remembered the words of Jesus who told us that the love of many would grow cold. I said, “God, I certainly need more love, but more than that, I need something that will not let my love grow cold.”
Then I wondered who I could or would ask. It would have to be someone who is already old, who loves God, has experienced and seen many things, who has witnessed God’s goodness and love, who has overcome difficulties and even dramatic experiences.
I thought of people I knew or had read about, people who were still alive or had long since passed away. I thought of individuals from Bible history, from Abel to John the apostle. In the end, it seemed somehow obvious and wise to me to ask Solomon. Apart from Jesus of course, but as He was the One asking me the question, I first left Jesus out of the picture, out of the competition so to speak.
What would Solomon advise me? The King of Israel, who ruled over a kingdom unlike any other and who had no easy start in life as a child, but was chosen by God and his father. He had to resist the opposition of his brother until he was finally crowned and acknowledged as king. He found favor in the eyes of the Lord, who also added wealth and fortune to his wish. Solomon saw the favor and glory of the Lord, and yet he departed from God. He allowed his heart to lean toward other gods and thus deviate from God’s laws and ordinances.
What would Solomon recommend to me or what did he teach us at the end of his life? And then I read it in Ecclesiastes:
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
I Wish for the Fear of the Lord
It is the fear of the Lord! Yes, I’d choose that and definitely prefer that to anything else. The fear of the Lord keeps my faith to the end; it keeps my love glowing; it makes revelations flow, and it is the beginning of wisdom.
“The fear of the Lord keeps my faith to the end; it keeps my love glowing; it makes revelations flow, and it is the beginning of wisdom.”
Fearing God has nothing to do with being afraid. Rather, it is respect, reverence, esteem, admiration, and acknowledgement. It is the awareness of how limited, imperfect, and mortal we are in the face of an immortal, almighty, and perfect God.
When we walk in the fear of the Lord, then we do not look at how and whether we can get through with certain attitudes and lifestyles. In the fear of God there is the desire to please God, to walk in His ways, and to do His will. Fearing God means living in humility, selflessness, and holiness, and also recognizing how dependent we are on this great God.
The word fear or reverence is used over 300 times in the Scriptures in connection with God. Awe is the natural reaction when God meets us in a glorious way or when we find ourselves at a higher level of glory.
And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last” (Revelation 1:17).
Even John the apostle, who did not leave Jesus’ side for more than three years and did not shrink from the danger of death even during the crucifixion of Jesus. He was the only one there in the worst hours of his Rabbi. He belonged to the innermost circle of Christ, had a special place in Jesus’ heart, and was one of three who saw Jesus shine on the Mount of Transfiguration. He experienced the resurrection and ascension of Jesus firsthand and saw it with his own eyes. Despite these experiences, and although he knew and worshiped Jesus like almost no one else, John also fell down in awe before Jesus when He appeared before him in greater glory.
The fear of the Lord is our natural reaction when we encounter higher levels of glory. It is true—we are the righteousness of Christ, and the old has passed away and the new has come; I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. That is the most wonderful truth. But when the glory appears on such an extraordinary scale, then we fall on our faces and confess that we are merely sinners who, without God, are only a heap of misery.
“When the glory appears on such an extraordinary scale, then we fall on our faces and confess that we are merely sinners who, without God, are only a heap of misery.”
It Is Not a Gift
God wants to give us the fear of the Lord, but it does not come cheaply. It is not transmitted by laying on of hands or received by a miracle.
The fear of God is learned. It requires time, our commitment, and our attention. It demands sacrifice and self-sacrifice. Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord (Psalm 34:11).
The fear of the Lord is the door to unbelievable heights and depths in God. It is the gateway to favor with God and men. A gateway to blessings we never even dared to dream of.
There is nothing in the entire Bible that is associated with more promises than the fear of the Lord—neither faith, grace, or trust, nor prayer, fasting, or the Word of God. Even love is not linked to as many promises as the fear of God is. It is my rock-solid conviction that the fear of the Lord unlocks every promise! Because if we have the fear of the Lord, there is nothing else we can lack.
Here is a small list of the blessings associated with the fear of the Lord:
It reverses want (Ps. 34:9).
God draws us into His confidence (Ps. 25:14).
The fullness of the covenant is applied (Ps. 25:14).
It helps us not to sin (Exod. 20:20).
God hears our voice (Mal. 3:16).
He always works for our good (Deut. 6:24).
It allows us to live well and happily (Ps. 128:2).
It generates wealth and riches (Ps. 112:3).
It gives wisdom (Ps. 111:10).
It enables us to have a successful marriage (Ps. 128:3).
It brings blessing to our descendants/children (Ps. 112:2).
It releases the blessing of God (Ps. 128:4).
It prolongs the days of our life (Prov. 10:27).
It pours out endless mercy upon us (Ps. 103:17).
It brings healing (Mal. 4:2).
It gives us comfort (Acts 9:31).
It dispels worries and creates trust (Prov. 14:26).
It enables us to receive revelation (Ps. 25:12).
It brings salvation (Ps. 145:19).
It enables me to recognize evil (Prov. 3:7).
It creates security (Ps. 16:8).
It secures our harvest (Jer. 5:24).
It gives us a place of refuge (Prov. 14:26).
It edifies us (Acts 9:31).
It is a source of life for us (Prov. 14:27)
And a hope far beyond death (Ps. 112:3).
Prayers are answered (Heb. 5:7).
It activates angels (Ps. 34:7).
It makes us sleep content and satisfied (Prov. 19:23).
It is protection from evil (Prov. 16:6).
It gives us peace (Acts 9:31)
And deliverance from enemies (2 Kings 17:39).
It is a light in darkness (Mal. 4:2).
It comforts us (Job 4:6).
It creates in us a generous heart (Acts 4:32).
It makes the church grow (Acts 9:31).
It gives us honor (Prov. 22:4).
What we say is heard in heaven (Mal. 3:16).
It makes our righteousness endure forever (Ps. 112:3).
It gives the earth to our descendants (Ps. 25:13).
We could add pages to this list, because in the fear of the Lord there is “all-inclusive” blessing. When God sees the fear of the Lord, He holds nothing back from us; it is the threshold to God’s treasuries and His immeasurable wealth, both spiritual and natural.
What the Church Fathers Say About the Fear of the Lord
Gregory the Miracle-Worker, also called Thaumaturgus, was a bishop and church father in the third century. He believed the fear of the Lord was the mother of all virtues. (1)With this understanding and this attitude, which was based on the fear of the Lord, he began his ministry in the third century in the bishopric of Neocesarea on the Black Sea. When he took office, there were only 17 Christians in the whole city. Because of his God-fearing life, the kingdom of God spread extremely fast in his city, and one inhabitant after the other was added to the church until on the day of his death there were only 17 unbelievers left in the whole city.
St. John of Antioch from the fourth century, also called Chrysostom (“golden-mouthed”), said about the fear of the Lord: “If we have the fear of the Lord, we lack nothing, and if we do not have it, then we are poorer than all men, even if we had a kingdom.” He continued: “We will acquire this; we will give everything for it! And if we also had to sacrifice our life, if we had to have our bodies cut to pieces, we would not hesitate.” (2) In order to gain the fear of the Lord, it is worth giving up everything.
In an address about the fear of the Lord in the fourth century, Ephrem the Syrian said, “Because these holy men feared God, the creatures feared them and obeyed their commands. The one who fears the Lord is above all other fears and leaves all the horrors of the world far behind him. He is far from all fear; no fear ever comes near Him when he fears God and observes all His commandments.” (3)
We cannot have a better foundation in life than the fear of the Lord. When you begin your day, begin it in the fear of the Lord and give honor and glory to God. If you are an employee at work, then work with the attitude of the fear of the Lord and try to give of your best. If you are part of a local church, be a blessing and a living stone in God’s temple who fears the Lord, and you will bear much fruit.
If you need breakthroughs and answers to prayer, always begin with the fear of God. Before focusing on your own concerns, turn your gaze away from your needs toward God, your Creator. If you are called by the Lord to ministry or to plant a church, always make the fear of God the foundation of the ministry.
Our calling is important, but the kingdom of God is more important. If you want to see success in your life and your daily experience, make the fear of God the protection for your habits. And the work of your hands, the words of your mouth, and the fruit of your ministry will be blessed.
God will undoubtedly take care of the fruit, growth, and success. He will secure it, humiliate your enemies, and increase your property. You will lack nothing, and even more than that, He will meet your needs with the riches of His glory (see Phil. 4:19).
Your prayers will not be unheard, but a prayer in the fear of the Lord is accompanied by the attitude, “Not my will be done, but Yours!” The fear of the Lord wants to spread the kingdom of God and not our own.
“The fear of the Lord wants to spread the kingdom of God and not our own.”
Abraham was asked to sacrifice his son—and in the moment when he raised his hand to kill Isaac, after he had laid him on the altar and tied him firmly to it, the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and spoke:
“Abraham, Abraham!” So he said, “Here I am.” And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me” (Genesis 22:11-12).
We know Abraham as the father of faith. In faith he left his family and set out for a land he had never seen before and which he did not know, but which God had promised to him, a God who was unknown to him and his family, but whom he believed and whose voice he followed—and God counted it to him as righteousness (see Gen. 15:6).
But to give up the most precious thing in life takes more than faith; it takes the fear of the Lord. Before this, Abraham was already the father of faith who had left everything and trusted God, but when he was prepared to sacrifice his son, it became apparent that he feared God. Nothing was as dear to his heart as his God, not even the most precious thing he had. That is the fear of God.
The fear of God is shown first and foremost in the place God occupies in our lives. He is the source of our life, the origin of our worship, and the end of our praise. We submit our worries to him, come before Him with thanksgiving, give Him honor and our attention every day, and when we lose ourselves in everyday life, we return to Him.
It is amazing how a shepherd boy named David, in faith and with a slingshot, a few stones, and God, defeated as a matter of course the ten- to twelve-foot-tall Goliath, of whom all Israel was afraid (see 1 Sam. 17:26-40). But when he was overcome with sorrows and fears, he fled from King Saul, who was just two meters tall and insane. Overwhelmed with fear, he did not seek out his slingshot but was satisfied only with the sword of Goliath; he did not seek refuge in God but thought he could find it in the camp of the enemy, with the Gittites (see 1 Sam. 21:9). Abandoned, lonely, and facing an uncertain future, he ended up in a dark, dirty cave called Adullam. Adullam means “retreat” or “refuge,” and it was there that David wrote Psalm 34.
I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him (Psalm 34:1-9).
Fearing God does not mean being immune to everyday life. Struggling with worries, fears, and uncertainty is part of life. But to fear God means to come before God with these attacks, to turn our gaze on Him, and to allow God to correct our point of view.
When we fear God, we honor, exalt, and worship Him; we skip time for things in everyday life in order to draw near to the Lord. We base our decisions on His pleasure. Not only with our words but with our life we communicate the message—God is my number one, and I owe everything to Him. He who fears God laughs and is confident, for those who fear Him have no lack (see Ps. 34:9).
If we stray from the right path, we return to God because we fear Him. When we find ourselves in a dead end, we turn to God and ask forgiveness for forgetting to include Him in our decisions. When we seek financial solutions by working even more, at the expense of our time with God, then we turn back in faith and reflect on Him. That is how we live in the fear of the Lord.
Those who fear the Lord are not perfect, but they are on their way to being made perfect. A saint who fears the Lord is not without sin and error, but he cannot live in peace with sin. He seeks God and is transformed more and more from glory to glory. He becomes more and more like Jesus. This is the fear of the Lord, and we need it more than ever.
Develop a hunger for the fear of God and make it your priority and desire. Always remember what Solomon said: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all” (Eccles. 12:13).
If you have the fear of the Lord, then you will lack nothing, absolutely nothing, whether spiritual, physical, emotional, or material. God will prove Himself in every area. He will open His treasuries for you, and the way to greater glory will not be hidden from you. You will experience breakthroughs and multiplication on all levels of your life.
Prayer
Lord, teach us the fear of the Lord.
Open our eyes to the precious and immeasurable glory of the fear of the Lord. Let us realize what a wonderful quality the fear of the Lord is, perhaps even the greatest thing in the world. With the fear of the Lord, we flee from a narcissistic world, and instead of constantly reciting our requests to You, which You do not forget in Your love and mercy, we make it our priority to please You.
Our King, more than anything, we want to exalt You in worship, reverence, admiration, enthusiasm, devotion, awe, and desire. Open our hearts wide to the fear of the Lord. Lord, teach us to fear God. We ask this in Jesus’ name.
Notes
1. Gregorius Thaumaturgus, “Praise to Origen,” qtd. in O. Bardenhewer and Th. Schermann, Bibliothek der Kirchenväter: Eine Auswahl patristischer Werke in deutscher Übersetzung (Dionysius Areopagita), Kempten and Munich, 1911, 35 (Dionysius, 245).
2. John Chrysostomus, “Commentary on the Letter to the Philippians, Fourth Homily,” qtd in O. Bardenhewer and K. Weyman, Ibid. (Johannes Chrysostomus, Vol. VII), Kempten and Munich, 1924, 55.
3. Ephrem the Syrian, “Address concerning the fear of the Lord and the Last Judgement of God and the Last Day,” qtd. in Ibid. (Ephräm der Syrer, Volume I), Kempten and Munich, 1919, 67.