Fear the LORD, Love his Word
Two Ways of Wise Living
Aaron Lee | November 1, 2024 | AWANA | Proverbs 1:7
Introduction
[Who is the smartest person you know?]
We’re learning about the different books of the Bible and the different genres of literature. Today we’re going to learn about the books of wisdom. The books of wisdom are the Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon.
These books are not cold facts about the world. Wisdom is to apply what you know to live a life that pleases God.
1. Fear the LORD
The first way of wise living is to fear the LORD:
1 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; (Proverbs 1:7)
The person who fears God is said to have the beginning of knowledge. This is the wise person. The wise person will fear God. This is not the same thing as being scared or afraid of God. Someone who fears God has a healthy respect and trust of God.
Application
In order to properly fear God, you must know God. You cannot neglect God and his word.
2. Love his Word
The second way of wise living is to love God’s word:
…fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7)
Fools despise wisdom and instruction. This is godly wisdom and godly instruction. The fool will not want to listen to God or the Bible. The fool despises it – meaning he doesn’t want anything to do with it.
Application
In order to live with wisdom, you must love God. There are a lot of people who know about God and the Bible but they do not want to apply it to their life. They live as if they are repulsed by it. We must live in a way that loves God and his word.
Gospel
The thing about the fear of the LORD as the beginning of wisdom is because that is only the start. True wisdom is found in Jesus.
For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1:22-24)
Big Idea
The wise person fears the LORD and loves his Word.
Conclusion
The smartest person in the world is not wise if he does not know Christ. I pray that you will not only know Jesus, but love him as well.