The Beginning of Wisdom and Why It Matters

By: Julia Huntley, Salem, OR

The concepts of love and service to others are all the rage these days, even among those who do not profess to follow Christ. Believers and non-believers alike espouse the importance of living a life focused on others—giving generously to those in need, helping those less fortunate, and just generally being a good, kind, honest person. This lifestyle is portrayed in the book of Proverbs as a life of wisdom, which I have heard most aptly defined as skill in the art of godly living. One interesting aspect about Proverbs is that, at first glance, it seems as if it could be used as a modern self-help book for anyone wanting to live a better life, not just believers. Theoretically, this is true. Someone could read Proverbs, follow its advice, and his life and the lives of those around him could benefit greatly, all without him ever having a relationship with the Lord. Yet, Solomon asserts at the outset of the book that living a life of wisdom begins with one fundamental step: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov. 1:9). Why is this important? Why does it matter if a person fears the Lord or not, as long as he follows the principles outlined in Proverbs of working diligently, giving generously, and generally being a good, kind, honest person? Why must a person also fear the Lord for his actions to be considered truly wise?

While there might be many viable answers to this question, Psalms 111 and 112 together give us an important clue as to why fearing the Lord is a vital foundation to living a life of wisdom (I encourage you to divert your attention for a few minutes and go read them for yourself). Psalm 111, like most praise psalms, begins with a call to “Praise the Lord!” and then proceeds to enumerate all the reasons why the Lord is worthy of praise. The psalmist repeatedly glorifies the Lord because of who He is and the works He has done for His people—He is gracious and merciful (v. 4), He provides food for those who fear Him (v. 5), He remembers His covenant forever (v.5), and He is faithful, just and trustworthy (v. 7), just to name a few of the Lord’s works and attributes. When we move into Psalm 112, we find it also begins with a call to “Praise the Lord!”, and then it proceeds to describe the character and works, not of the Lord, but of “the man who fears the Lord.” And how does the psalmist describe this man? He describes works and attributes similar to those used to describe the Lord Himself—he is gracious and merciful (v. 4); generous and just (v. 5), and he has given to the poor (v. 9). In other words, the man who fears the Lord reflects in his character and actions the Lord whom he fears.

At the end of Psalm 111 in verse 10, centered between these two psalms, is the same statement that Solomon makes in Proverbs 1: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” That statement serves as an important link between these psalms because it forces us to realize that fearing the Lord is key to living a life of wisdom. Fearing the Lord is the only worthwhile motivation behind a life characterized by love and service to others. The actions of the man in Psalm 112 only happen because he wholeheartedly understands and fears the Lord as described in Psalm 111. He lives a life of wisdom not because it makes his life on earth better (though it does), but because he wholeheartedly understands the magnificent greatness of the Lord described in Psalm 111, and it changes his life from the inside out. Why is the fear of the Lord the beginning of wisdom? Because those who fear God are compelled to reflect the God whom they fear, and reflecting God looks like a life of wisdom—a life characterized by graciousness, mercy, faithfulness, justice, and generosity.

Fearing the Lord not only provides the motivation to live a life of wisdom like that portrayed in Proverbs, but it also provides eternal significance to our actions of love and service. Notice again what the psalmist says about both the Lord and the man who fears the Lord—for both of them, “his righteousness endures forever” (111:3; 112:3,9). Without the fear of the Lord behind his actions, the best that a non-believer can hope to achieve by living a life of goodness and generosity is a great reputation here on earth. Once he is dead and gone, his goodness will end with his last breath, and he will eventually be remembered no more. Ultimately, all of his good and generous actions are nothing more than a vain pursuit to a better earthly existence. On the other hand, for the man who fears the Lord, his actions have eternal significance and value because “his righteousness endures forever.” His good and generous actions are not in vain but will live on long after his life on earth has ended. Living a life of wisdom only has lasting significance when it is a response that comes from a heart that fears the Lord.

While it is possible to use the book of Proverbs like a modern self-help book, if we want our acts of love and service not to be in vain, we must first understand who the Lord is and what He has done for us both on a collective and personal level. When we reflect on the Lord’s magnificent works, we should be compelled to cry out with the psalmist of Psalm 66:16 and say, “Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he has done for my soul.” What has the Lord done for your soul? Can you personally attest to the Lord’s graciousness, generosity, faithfulness, mercy, and love? Our answer to that question should motivate each of us to go out and do for others what the Lord has done for us, and in so doing, we will live lives of wisdom, lives characterized by a righteousness that “endures forever.” “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” indeed!