First Things First

Today’s Jewel:

Fear the Lord

Treasure Map Coordinates:

Proverbs 14:1; 9:10

I have a love-hate relationship with technology. For myself, it is a blessing and benefits me greatly. With the assistance of my computer, many of my weekly tasks are accomplished in no time. For my children, however, I cringe at the thought of technology in their not-so-tiny hands.

Admittedly, we have been intentionally slow to issue phones and video gaming systems in our home. My children know this, so you can only imagine their surprise and elation when the wrapping paper and bows were removed from the boxes. On that Christmas day (I must have been out of my mind!) we gifted each of our two youngest children computers of their own. With access to the world wide web, they now had opportunities previously denied to them, namely the ability to communicate with friends and play games.

We promptly set up their devices (complete with parental controls) and allowed them time on their new toys each day. We watched as our daughter clicked dialog boxes without even reading the text. She had no idea what she was allowing her computer to do. We were quick to suggest she take time to read and respond appropriately to the questions before her. She completely disregarded our cautionary words. On the other side of the room, our son was more attentive to the warnings and suggestions presented before him.

Would you care to guess which of our children has problems with their computer? Yep. You know it. Our daughter constantly complains how her device doesn’t work right. We’ve even attempted to restore her computer to original settings. Even so, there seems to be an incessant wave of complaints coming from her corner of the room.

Two children. Two computers. Gifted on the same day. Our children exercised completely different approaches, which led to completely different experiences and outcomes.

Proverbs 14:1 presents a similar story.

The wise woman builds her house,

but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.

Two women. Two homes. Two completely different outcomes.

Here, the wise woman and the foolish woman each have a house. We can imagine, in our world of “cookie cutter” homes, these two women live on the same street, likely across the road from each other. On the outside, their homes are identical utilizing the same paint color, the same mailbox and possessing matching trees smack dab in the middle of their front yards.

The insides, too, share striking resemblances. The same tiles cover the floors. Everything from the drawer pulls to the carpet and the layout…all of it is exactly identical.

The physical appearances of these homes, however, is where the commonalities end.

The inner workings of each home are as similar as light and darkness. The wise woman is feverishly working to build up and maintain her home while the foolish woman destroys her own.

At the end of the month, the foolish woman’s house is showing signs of wear and tear. At the end of a year, there are cracks in the foundation. By the time a decade has elapsed, the home is physically starting to crumble. After a lifetime, the foolish woman has nothing but a pile of ruins to show for all the time in her home.

The wise woman, just a stone’s throw from her neighbor, has a home able to withstand the strongest of storms. The foundation remains solid. At the end of her lifetime, her home is stable and secure, a lighthouse and refuge for others.

Before we even consider what it means to build up our homes, we must first be wise. Wisdom is the prerequisite to establishing any home, family, ministry or community on a firm foundation.

As we look through Scripture, we discover wisdom emerges out of fear for the Lord. Proverbs 9:10 states, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”

To be wise, then, begins with fearing God—a term not easily defined. While many scholars have provided meaningful explanations, I hope you will find my own definition helpful.

To fear the Lord means to maintain a deep and profound sense of awe and reverence for God.

Implicit within this definition is the requirement to spend time with the Lord on a regular basis. The ability to fear God begins in the presence of God. Unless we meet with him, there is no fear. Where there is no fear, there is no wisdom.

As we daily choose to gaze upon the face of our Lord, we will be inclined to fear him. This is a natural process, for as we understand him more deeply and know him more intimately, fear of the Lord crashes over us like a mighty wave. Fear comes naturally when we pursue God wholeheartedly.

Let’s begin here. In the presence of our holy God. Let’s renew our sense of awe, for he is indeed like no other god, being, power or authority. He is God in heaven who “does whatever pleases him” (Psalm 115:3).

Begin here. Repeat daily. Our fear of God will lead to wisdom. Then we’ll be able to build the homes, families, ministries and communities that will endure even the fiercest storms. At the end of a lifetime, the foundations will remain intact, leaving a legacy for generations to come.

For Reflection

Beyond wisdom, what are the benefits of maintaining fear of the Lord?

Time in God’s presence leads to fear. Fear leads to wisdom. Wisdom enables us to build our homes and communities. How have you attempted to build up your own life and home without meeting the preceding conditions?

Bury that Treasure!

Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing (Psalm 34:9).

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible: The New International Version (NIV)

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