The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom

Remember the saying, "healthy, wealthy and wise?" What is being wise, wisdom? It doesn't necessarily have anything to do with longevity or maturity or tenure.

In Proverbs 1: 2, it is "to perceive the words of understanding."
-- To be able to understand, discern meaning

Verse 5 says, "A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel."
-- To listen intently, gain knowledge.

Wisdom, I have found, begins with the Lord.

Proverbs 1: 7 -- "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge"

Job 28: 28 -- "Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, And to depart from evil is understanding."

Psalm 111: 10 -- "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever."

Proverbs 9: 10 -- "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."

Proverbs 15: 33 -- "The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility."

Ecclesiastes 12: 13a -- "Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is the whole duty of man."

Fear ... Not as in being afraid, scared, frightened, tormented; but showing reverence toward, being in awe of, the Almighty God.

I Timothy 1: 5 -- "Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith."

Hebrews 12: 28-29 -- "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire."

1 John 4: 12, 15-18 -- "If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. Love has been perfected among us in this; that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love."

John 3: 16 -- "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

The fear of God ... to be committed.

Deuteronomy 10: 12a-13 -- "What does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and will all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes. ..."

Psalm 27: 1-3 -- "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, my enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell. Though an army should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; Though war should rise against me, in this I
will be confident."

Fearing the Lord ... is not being afraid of Him, but being in awe of Him.

Psalm 34: 4, 7, 11, 13-14 -- "I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them. Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking guile (untruths, lies). Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it."

2 Timothy 1: 7 -- "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."

A spirit of fear ... a sense of awe, but not being cowardly. Of sound mind ... having good sense

Proverbs 24: 21 -- "... fear the Lord and the King; Do not associate with those given to change; (those in opposition to civil authority) for their calamity (distress, adversity, troubles) will rise suddenly," meaning, as it says in verse 17, "Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles."

1 Peter 2: 17 -- "Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the King."

Wisdom begins with God, is reverence for God, being in awe of God, abiding with God, trusting God, serving God, loving God, following God, obeying God.