What are you afraid of? It is a good and fair question in itself and especially to follow with the simple word “why?” Fear has an impact on our behavior. I have not kept it a secret that I am afraid of snakes (though given how many mischievous people we have at North Holland, maybe I should have…) and can admit that I kick the last two pieces of firewood at the bottom of the row before I pick them up because I don’t want to startle myself or a snake by finding a slithering “nope rope” on the ground. A quick search on Google confirms that the top 10 list of fears hasn’t changed much over the last few decades. Fear of heights, public speaking, snakes/spiders, tight spaces, water, storms, blood, poverty, losing a job, and social phobias like fear of being judged, not fitting in, or getting excluded continue to top the list. Whatever you might be afraid of, it has some impact on your behavior. The person who is afraid of not fitting in will go along with the crowd to avoid exclusion or rejection; you don’t raise your hand in group settings if you’re afraid of public speaking or afraid of looking dumb by making mistakes; the arachnophobe will bring a broom to the basement if they have to go there, and so on. Yet what about the fear of the Lord? Psalm 111 and Proverbs 9 both repeat that same beautiful and intriguing phrase: the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Fear has an impact on our behavior. Fear of the Lord might stand alone in its own positive light for the good that healthy reverence does. When we fear God, we don’t run away, though we might bow down. Fear of the Lord is like fear of fire or fear of operating heavy equipment: you respect the power that you’re dealing with and the strength that is bigger than you. We learned from Job to not forget who we’re dealing with when we talk with or about God. One thief on the cross mocked Jesus in Luke 23, and the other responded, “Don’t you fear God?” Or to say, “Don’t you know who and what type of power you’re dealing with?” And to that thief Jesus said, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23 is a potent example of Proverbs 9:12: “If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.” Fear of God was the beginning of wisdom (even at the end of life) and was rewarded. A mocker only takes their own suffering to the grave. I hope fear of the Lord can be the primary fear that shapes who we are and that reverence of God organizes all other fears as subject to the great beginning of wisdom. In humility, we recognize that it is only the beginning, though. 1 Corinthians 12 speaks of wisdom as a gift of the Holy Spirit, and God supplies us with wisdom beyond ourselves in our time of need when we ask (just read the book of James). But the pursuit of wisdom is a disciplined journey and rigorous pursuit; we don’t get to just download wisdom like software. It isn’t works-righteousness, as salvation comes through Christ alone, but gaining wisdom the ways Psalms and Proverbs describe is a dedicated effort. Wisdom is rewarding even when life is painful. Fear of the Lord — a healthy respect, awe and reverence for our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer is where it all begins. What are you afraid of? What is shaping you? Prayerfully, may it be Jesus! - Pastor Steven