"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction." Proverbs 1:7
Today is January 1, 2018. New Year's Day! I started reading through my Bible a couple of days ago to get a jump on the new year. One of my resolutions is to be more diligent in my daily Bible reading, and get through the Bible this year. In 2016 I read through the Bible in 4 months, but last year honestly I probably didn't read an entire book just bits and pieces here and there. I need to get my fire back for God, and this is probably where it's going to start as I read the Bible. I started reading in Gen 1, Matthew 1, and Proverbs 1. Proverbs 1 stuck out to me this morning, and is a perfect chapter for New Year's Day.
The reason I say it's perfect for New Year's Day is because it gives the key to the beginning of knowledge which is the fear of the Lord. It also gives the key for foolish living which is to despise wisdom and instruction. These are two things I so desperately want to have in my life in 2018 for the entire year. 1) To Fear God and live with the knowledge of God 2) Not to be a fool, but to live wisely in all areas of my life.
This chapter basically teaches us how to live successfully in life, and how to royally mess things up.
In verse 20, wisdom begins to speak to us. "Wisdom calls aloud outside; She raises her voice in the open squares, She cries out on top of the walls..." First wisdom calls to the simple and foolish, but they aren't listening, and the Bible says that the foolish hate knowledge. Wisdom says that if we turn at her rebuke that the spirit of wisdom will be poured out on us, and make her words known to us. But even after this encouragement by wisdom the foolish ignore the counsel and do not turn from evil. In fact here is what the Bible says, "Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, They would have none of my counsel and despised my every rebuke. Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled to the full with their own fancies. For the turning away of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them;" Prov 1:29-32
If we "act the fool", God will sooner or later give us over to our own way and eventually it will destroy us. But, the ending of Proverbs 1 leaves us with the key to living successfully for 2018.
"But whoever listens to me(wisdom), will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil." Prov. 1:33
Let's listen and obey instruction, and the wisdom of the Word in 2018. Let's fear the Lord as the beginning of knowledge, and let's not despise wisdom and instruction. If we don't listen to this wisdom, we're really not going to have a prosperous year in 2018. Honestly, we may have to experience some consequences as a result if we don't fear the Lord. But, the blessing of the Lord comes to the ones who fear God, and keep His commandments.
"He will bless those who fear the Lord, Both small and great." Psalm 115:13
"Blessed is every one who fears the Lord, Who walks in His ways." Psalm 128:1
"The fear of the Lord leads to life, and he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil." Prov. 19:23
"Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, Who delights greatly in His commandments." Psalm 112:1
"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments for this is man's all. Ecclesiastes 12:13
