1065 The Beginning of Knowledge - Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. This verse from Proverbs 1:7 is the starting point for a series of podcasts on the book of Proverbs. The fear of the Lord is not about being afraid of God, but rather appreciating his power and strength. When we understand his power, we will be in awe of him. God is the origin and beginning of everything, and true knowledge begins with trusting him. The opposite of fearing the Lord is despising wisdom and instruction. This foolishness leads to a life separate from God and uninformed about the eternal. When we despise wisdom and instruction, we become fools. This knowledge of God gives us the freedom to make choices that are informed by the eternal. We can choose to spend our time, money, and energy in ways that matter forever. We can be involved in loving God and loving people, the two great commandments that Jesus gave us. Our actions, choices, and what we do matter forever. The challenge is to live in such a way that we make God visible. We can do this by doing something for someone we work with or go to school with, simply because we follow Jesus. This is our opportunity to make him visible in the world. Being a marketplace minister means considering how our faith can make an eternal difference. It all begins with the knowledge of God and the fear of God. Let's start there today and be a blessing to others.