Fear of the LordSample

Accept and Believe

When I was in Bible school, I had a double major - pastoral ministry and business. In my business degree, I had to take two courses in computer programming (this was in the mid-1980s). I knew that computer programming wasn't my calling, but my professor was patient with me and said, "I know this is not your gift and you may feel frustrated, but make sure that you still stay in the ministry because that is your calling." 

I worked hard in this course, and I even worked on coding. While I dedicated time to learning more about coding, I learned something that stands out to me to this day: it's called the "if/then" logic. "If/then" coding logic means if you insert a numerical value, there would be a resulting input through the computer. For example, you could code the program to insert the word "yes" every time you type the number "1" or insert the word "no" every time you type "0". So, in this case, IF you type one, THEN the result will be yes. IF you type zero, THEN the result will show no. In layman's terms, we would call this cause and effect. If you plant an apple seed, then you will get an apple tree. If you study hard for a test, then you can expect to do better on the test.

Even thousands of years ago, Solomon clearly understood if/then logic. Proverbs 2:1-9 is a long if/then statement. Throughout these verses, Solomon states that if you do the things he mentions, then you are guaranteed the result. The result is the fear of the Lord, which is the foundation of wisdom.

Solomon starts this chapter off with "My son, if you accept my words..."

There is such importance in this statement. When you accept something, it means that you understand that it is truth. Now, as a psychologist, I know this can work in both directions. If someone believes they are worthless for whatever reason they tell themselves, then he or she will accept this as truth. They will also make relationships and personal decisions based upon their feeling of worthlessness and beliefs about themselves. On the other hand, if an individual believes they are worthy, then they make choices based upon this belief. What we accept and believe are always correlated to the choices we make in our lives. 

In this verse, Solomon asks us to fully and unequivocally accept God's Word. And we should—the Word of God is truth! Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life" (John 14:6). 

As a believer, I accept God's Word as truth. It's how we get started on this journey of fearing the Lord. God's Word must have the first say and the final word—not emotions, people's beliefs, or how society tells us to act. 

If we accept God's Word as truth, it becomes the way we filter our thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors. When we truly accept and understand God's word as truth for our lives and decisions, we take the first of several steps in obtaining or actualizing the fear of God in our lives and mature.

The importance of accepting the Word of God as truth is crucial as we learn how to understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.