Get Smart:

 The US economy is in the tank. Record numbers of people are without jobs. Healthcare is a mess. Our home values and retirement accounts are significantly less valuable. And this might just be the start of it all. As Christians we turn to God in times of trouble. What should we ask from God? What should we say? Israel’s King Solomon was given an opportunity to ask for anything from God. So what did he ask for? Riches? Power? Dominion? … No. He asked for wisdom. Not only did God grant him wisdom, but through that God-given wisdom, Solomon was one of the world’s most successful leaders. We could probably use a little bit of that wisdom in our present social and economic condition.  This series, based on the Proverbs from the Old Testament, will help us to gain practical wisdom for everyday living.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GET SMART - Week 1

“The Fear of the Lord”

SERIES GOAL:  To understand more about wisdom and how to obtain real wisdom for practical living.

TODAY’S PURPOSE:  After experiencing this service I will understand what a healthy fear of the Lord looks like, and I will allow my heart to be softened toward God’s wisdom.

OUR SCRIPTURE:  Proverbs 1:7 - “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.”

“God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore.” (1 Kings 4:29)

Old Testament Wisdom Literature:
Song of Solomon - love
Job - pain and suffering
Psalms - the heart
Ecclesiastes - the mind, on a search for meaning
Proverbs - the will, or choices we make

(Proverbs 1:20)

The purpose of the Book of Proverbs is found in 1:2-6: “for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; ³for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair; ⁴for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young—⁵let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance—⁶for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.” (Proverbs 1:2-6)

Oswald Chambers said: “The remarkable thing about fearing God is that, when you fear God, you fear nothing else; whereas, if you do not fear God, you fear everything else.”

Practical benefits when we have a fear of the Lord:
We’ll become wise: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…” (Proverbs 9:10)
We’ll live longer: “The fear of the Lord adds length to life…” (Proverbs 10:27)
We’ll become content: “Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil.” (Proverbs 15:16)
We’ll become more holy: “Through the fear of the Lord a man avoids evil.” (Proverbs 16:6)
We’ll live life to its fullest: “The fear of the Lord leads to life...” (Proverbs 19:23)
We’ll experience great blessings: “Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life.” (Proverbs 22:4)

Ways to cultivate the fear of the Lord in your life:
--Have a desire to develop it. (Nehemiah 1:11)

--Be willing to learn. (Deuteronomy 4:10)

--Choose to fear the Lord. (Proverbs 1:28-29)

When we fear God we will live holy lives.  (Proverbs 14:2)

Click here for Background Notes for this week's message