The Fear of Lord is the Beginning of Knowledge

Proverbs 1:1-7: "The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: To know wisdom and instruction, to discern the sayings of understanding, to receive instruction in wise behavior, righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the naive, to the youth knowledge and discretion, a wise man will hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel, to understand a proverb and a figure, the words of the wise and their riddles.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."

What an incredible privilege it is that I am able to freely read and learn from a man blessed with divine wisdom and through whom Almighty God Himself has offered wisdom and instruction. Within these divinely inspired proverbs are invaluable morsels of wisdom that could be mine if I would just receive it.

The fact is that I am in need of wisdom and instruction. I need understanding. I must grow in wise behavior, righteousness, justice, and equity. I am naive, therefore I am in need of prudence. I am still but a youth, therefore I am in need of knowledge and discretion.

Am I a wise man? Am I man of understanding? I don't know...I have my moments, I think; but most often I think I am an immature adult. I need to grow up. Will I acquire wisdom? Will I truly hear and increase in learning? Will I ponder and understand the words of the wise and their riddles?

All these questions and any action I take will be in vain unless I fear the Lord. Do I truly fear the Lord? I believe I must first start with fearing the Lord before I even begin to take on the task of studying and acquiring wisdom. Furthermore, I ought to just pack everything up and leave if I despise wisdom and instruction, because I would be a fool, and a fool need not spend any time pondering any of this.