The wisdom of fear. Who would have ever thought that it would be wise to fear? If you enjoy mobster kind of movies, you perhaps have heard the line, “you would be wise to be afraid.” You know so afraid where you sweat, knees knock and your planning your escape out of town. But what Job is referring to has nothing with that kind of fear or mobsters for that matter. The fear he speaks brings a boldness like no other. It is that reverential fear of being in awe of who God is. I imagine when I read this verse and an image appears in my mind…Here I am standing back just being in awe of God. Watching how he meticulously moves, plans and purposes our footsteps enshrouds me with a confidence that my Father is intentional in everything He does. As I stand in total compliance that He has my good in mind, wisdom begins to grow within my understanding . I see the why in that situation. I understand the significance of that scripture. I see the necessity of applying faith more strongly in that area in this moment. Wisdom comes.
So wisdom comes from fear. Oh fear that really can only come from humbling ourselves before God. Humility before Christ is a key component in our journey with Christ. I often teach children and when the topic of humbleness comes up they have a hard time in defining what it is. It is when I give them the opposite of humbleness that the light comes on. Pride.
Pride is spoken frequently in the scriptures. It can interfere with following direction, cloud our judgement and brings destruction.
There is nothing profitable to pride. Pride doesn’t advance us to a greater purpose. Where there is pride, destruction is soon to follow. Pride can take on many faces and avenues. But here is the bottom line, “He’s God and You (I) Ain’t”. I know all the grammar driven folks just cringed with that sentence! Think how much God cringes at our choice to become so prideful that we think we know better than He. Pride. It is an ugly thing. It is sneaky too. So how do we guard ourselves from becoming prideful. We do just that-guard ourselves. Even the smallest crack , just the most minute gap is enough for the enemy to get in and begin his lies of deception. Keeping ourselves humble before God is vitally important. The humbleness of realizing we serve a very big God. If He can speak and things are created, what do you have that is too much for Him?
It comes down to this, when we acknowledge God in everything we do and everything we are, we begin to see just how awesome He is . He is in control. Wisdom comes to help us understand that anything contrary to who He is, is evil. There is wisdom in fear.
Pray this today:
Father, show me if pride has come into my life. Reveal to me how I have not stood in awe of you as you work out your perfect will in my life. Forgive me in those moments where I have missed you. I yield myself to the grandeur of who you are. I stand in awe! I stand in awe of knowing that you are a good Father. Thank you for being my heavenly Father that loves me enough to lead me . Humbly I ask these things….