The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom

[Valsport]

Thank you Jesus!!

 

[survivalistd]

AMEN brother

 

[Valsport]

This is powerful brothers

 

[Cowbell]

Thanks for this! These are words to live by

 

[Davyalabama]

Amen. Good words for today.

 

[Preston]

Right on!

 

[wh0cansay]

Forced to fear and forced to love, quite the predicament.

 

[Q child]

Do these quotes relate to wisdom? These quotes seem more about morality and judgement to me. I don't have much of a biblical education.

 

[Billogna]

It's really pretty straight forward... "Be excellent to each other!!" "And party on dudes!!"

 

[J. Swartz LLC]

Thank you Jesus!!

View attachment 896236

Indeed!

 

[wh0cansay]

It's really pretty straight forward... "Be excellent to each other!!" "And party on dudes!!"

I don't quite understand how being forced to fear a celestial dictator leads to love for my fellow man. Surely I don't need the former to be able to incorporate the latter.

 

[insanelupus]

Psalms 34:4 NASB1995
[4] I sought the Lord, and He answered me, And delivered me from all my fears.


One of the most powerful verses in all of scripture for me personally for a variety of reasons.

For many years I tried harder to do better, always seeing God as grading me daily on what I did, knowing I wasn't perfect and would always fall short.

My personal testimony is this, God did in my life what no man can do on his own. He changed a hardened heart of stone to one of flesh. Softened my heart to have a love, care, and empathy for others that was non-existent before.

And in so doing, I found my identity in Him and what He created me to be. It was then I realized, behavior modification was not His goal. That is the outgrowth, the result, of a heart that strives to love Him and follow His commandments.

His desire for my life is for me to pursue Him and know Him at a heart level in a personal relationship. That love, respect, and reverence of who He truly is, often translated as fear, is the beginning of a relationship, and yes, wisdom, that only comes from knowing Him at that heart level.

And while life still comes, I still get overwhelmed, the stress, struggle, and realities of life are real, there is a peace, joy, and even understanding, that hinges on the hope and faith in His sovereignty, grace, mercy, and love through my eternal, Lord, Savior, and King, Jesus Christ.

Thanks for posting @Valsport

 

[J. Swartz LLC]

I don't quite understand how being forced to fear a celestial dictator leads to love for my fellow man. Surely I don't need the former to be able to incorporate the latter.

That's because you don't understand the word fear in this context it does not mean fear as in be scared. It's used in a way that means respect. "Respect and honor the Lord"

 

[Steven.Elmore]

I don't quite understand how being forced to fear a celestial dictator leads to love for my fellow man. Surely I don't need the former to be able to incorporate the latter.

It's more a meaning of reverence, in Hebrew it's defined as "overwhelming Awe".

Men don't need God to do good to others as long as doing good meets their needs, helps them accomplish an end goal, or provides some sort of benefit. A lot of people come to the Lord in fear once they realize the position their sin has put them in with God, that's normal. The growth, sanctification, is where they learn to love Him, follow His commandments in scripture, and show His love to fellow men.

Proverbs 9:10 Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Wisdom in this instance is the knowledge of how to be in a right relationship with God, which leads to valuing the reproof of wisdom(His word) and choosing to please God over pleasing men or ones self, that is true wisdom, which leads to doing good to others with right motives that are pleasing to God. That should be the goal of a professing Christian.

 

[Yoder]

I don't quite understand how being forced to fear a celestial dictator leads to love for my fellow man. Surely I don't need the former to be able to incorporate the latter.

God doesn't force anyone to do anything. You have free will to do God's will or your own. To fear God only means to obey his commandments. God's first two commandments are to love him above everything the second is to love your neighbor as yourself. So, fearing God will bring you to loving your fellow man. It will even bring you to loving your enemies.

 

[Billogna]

I don't quite understand how being forced to fear a celestial dictator leads to love for my fellow man. Surely I don't need the former to be able to incorporate the latter.

My statement was actually meant in contrary to above scriptures. In my experience, most people over complicate being a good human being. It was just my way of making things simpler for myself when I was younger and not getting so bogged in the literal translations, and sticking more to what I believe the spirit of Christianity was meant to be.

 

[Nicaburns]

sticking more to what I believe the spirit of Christianity was meant to be.

If by “sticking to the spirit of Christianity” you mean accepting that we have no hope apart from Christ and the free gift of Salvation that he offers as a result of what he did for us on the cross and His resurrection, then I am with you 100%
Sadly, some believe the “spirit of Christianity” is moralism, and nothing could be further from what He Taught or the sacrifice He made. Jesus is either Lord, liar, or lunatic… I am thankful to call him Lord.

 

[Billogna]

If by “sticking to the spirit of Christianity” you mean accepting that we have no hope apart from Christ and the free gift of Salvation that he offers as a result of what he did for us on the cross and His resurrection, then I am with you 100%
Sadly, some believe the “spirit of Christianity” is moralism, and nothing could be further from what He Taught or the sacrifice He made. Jesus is either Lord, liar, or lunatic… I am thankful to call him Lord.

And this is where our paths separate. I'll take my morals and step out. Have a great day!!

 

[Fowl Play]

If by “sticking to the spirit of Christianity” you mean accepting that we have no hope apart from Christ and the free gift of Salvation that he offers as a result of what he did for us on the cross and His resurrection, then I am with you 100%
Sadly, some believe the “spirit of Christianity” is moralism, and nothing could be further from what He Taught or the sacrifice He made. Jesus is either Lord, liar, or lunatic… I am thankful to call him Lord.

I will say thinking like this is what drives allot of people away from Christianity. "You will know them by their fruits." If you are a true Christian, you should practice what Jesus preached. Yes, he did say He is the way, the truth, and the life. But he also taught "morality", kindness, compassion, etc. It should be apparent to others, that you are different and trying to follow what He preached. You can't just say you believe in Christ and then "your fruits" are that of a horrible human being. Especially in areas of the country where being a "Christian" is cultural.... everyone goes to church... you find "Christians" like this. Not saying you are, just saying I think Jesus would be very upset to see what the current state of most churches is...

 

[average]

Matthew 25:31-46

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”