King Solomon spent much of his life pursuing happiness in every form. In the end, he concluded that the most important aspect of a man's life was to "fear God, and keep His commandments" (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

What does it mean to fear God? Does it mean that God wants us to cower in terror when we come before Him in prayer? Does it mean that we are to live in constant anxiety that God is waiting for us to slip up so that He can punish us?

Points to Build On

As human beings, we naturally fear anything that is physically or emotionally threatening. We also tend to fear anything that is greater than we are or different from ourselves.

Human beings can develop irrational fears. Fears can grow until they control our lives with irrational thoughts and emotions. Psychologists call these fears phobias. Some common phobias are: acrophobia, fear of high places; claustrophobia, fear of closed places; and xenophobia, fear of strangers.

There are literally hundreds of phobias people suffer from, including "school phobia," fear of water, fear of the dark, etc. These aren't emotions based on normal respect for danger, but overwhelming emotions of anxiety and irrational fear.

People have become so overwhelmed by fear of everyday life that they lock themselves in their homes and refuse to leave. Some have a phobic fear of God. They feel that God is vengeful, just waiting for them to sin so He can punish them. Although the proper fear of God is predicated on His great majesty and power, it isn't a phobia.

In Matthew 25:14-30 Jesus gives the Parable of the Talents. He tells the story of a master who gives different responsibilities to three servants and then goes away for a period of time. When the master returns, he finds that two of the servants have done well but the third has hidden his talent because of fear and laziness. The master rewards the two profitable servants but punishes the unprofitable.

If fear of punishment is our only motivation for obedience, then we will fail to develop a healthy relationship with God as our Father.

The proper fear of God is based upon an overwhelming awe and reverence of His righteousness, holiness, creative genius, love, mercy, His eternity, His transcendent qualities to possess all power and all knowledge, and His ability to interact with His creation.

It is also a realization of the destructive results of sin, which is defined by God's law. Solomon sums up this understanding in Proverbs 8:13: "The fear of the Lord is to hate evil."

Application

The proper fear of God is almost nonexistent in today's society. Because of this lack of awe and respect for their Creator, people's lives are filled with all kinds of fears, anxieties and phobias. God desires us to experience a life of peace, not one filled with irrational fear.

Proverbs stresses the importance of the proper fear of God:

Proverbs 15:33: The fear of God is the foundation of wisdom.

Proverbs 22:4: By it come riches, honor and life.

Proverbs 1:7; 9:10: It is the beginning of knowledge.

Proverbs 10:27; 14:27: It prolongs life.

Proverbs 19:23: It makes life more abundant.

Proverbs 16:6: By it men depart from evil.

Proverbs 14:26: It is strong confidence.

Dedicate your life to learning to have a proper fear of God. Study His Word, explore His creation, meditate on His instructions, learn to hate evil and live a life founded on the reverence, awe and respect for this Great Being who created and sustains the universe.