Proverbs 15:16 RA Trouble Tethered To Treasure

Proverbs 15:16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it. What is better than trouble tethered to treasure because of sin? To tell the truth… just about anything you can think of. I would rather live in a small one room house with peace walking in the joy of the Lord… I would rather be able to connect to people with genuine love and be a giver… When I fall into some self centered trap I would rather be able to quickly repent and be reconciled to God and man…. I would rather all these things than to be rich beyond measure, walking with the devil, always burning bridges in relationships, in bondage to sin, miserable, unsatisfied… unrepentant… The riches from above are worth more than anything the world gives. Today’s text talks about the fear of the Lord as though it is a good thing to prize above the greatest earthly treasure. Why? It is not like the fear of a father who beats his children or abuses his wife but rather it is a loving kind of fear… a fear one would have towards a loving father who works his fingers to the bone for his family… He would go without so they could have food and schooling… he would give his life for his children. What kind of fear would you have towards a father like that? It is a fear that you might hurt him by disobedience… It is a fear that he might love you so much to discipline you when you rebel for your own good in life… He loves you enough not to let you go down the wrong path even if it means discipline. The Lord loves you so much that he gave his only Son to die for you… He loves you enough to show you he is the only good news for your soul… he loves you enough to show you he is the best treasure in the Universe worth turning away from all for… He loves you enough to adopt you into his family and discipline you as his own child for your own good… Here’s a couple verses I’ll close with: Psalm 103:11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; Psalm 111:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!