The Beginning of Wisdom
Mark Twain had a way with words. “If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.” That’s wisdom in a sentence. But as helpful as quotes like that can be, we have something better—a whole book of the Bible devoted to wisdom: Proverbs.
And let’s be honest—we need it. Wisdom isn’t exactly prized these days. Decisions are often driven by emotion, not understanding. Experience isn’t learned from, and examples of wise living are hard to find. If that doesn’t change, it won’t end well. We need wisdom—for ourselves, our families, our church, and our community. And Proverbs shows us where to begin.
The Beginning of Wisdom
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” (Proverbs 9:10)
If we want wisdom, we don’t start with techniques or life hacks. We start with God. More specifically, we start with the fear of the Lord. So what does that mean—and how do we live it out?
What Is the Fear of the Lord?
When we hear the word “fear,” we usually think of something we avoid. But the fear of the Lord doesn’t drive us away from God—it draws us to Him.
Proverbs helps us understand it:
It is hatred of evil (Proverbs 8:13)
It is a fountain of life (Proverbs 14:27)
It is tied to humility (Proverbs 15:33)
Put that together, and here’s what we get:
The fear of the Lord is the humble, heartfelt submission to a good and holy God so that He is willingly obeyed.
It’s more than reverence. More than respect. It’s a life that bends toward God—because He is good and holy.
Think of a child with loving parents. He listens, not just because of discipline, but because of love. That’s the picture. The fear of the Lord is not cold or distant—it’s affectionate, careful, and obedient.
Why Is the Fear of the Lord the Beginning of Wisdom?
Because wisdom is rooted in who God is.
Proverbs says the fear of the Lord:
Leads to life (Proverbs 19:23)
Prolongs life (Proverbs 10:27)
Gives strong confidence (Proverbs 14:26)
These aren’t promises to claim—they are principles to live by. This is how life generally works in God’s world.
Why? Because God’s wisdom flows from His character. He is good. He is holy. So when we submit to Him, we are aligning our lives with reality. Rejecting His wisdom isn’t just a bad idea—it’s rejecting Him.
That’s why this is the beginning. If we get this wrong, everything else falls apart. But if we get this right, we’re building on solid ground.
How Do I Fear the Lord?
Let’s make it practical.
Humble yourself. Seek God’s counsel. Do what He says.
That’s it. Simple to say. Hard to live.
Proverbs 2:1–5 paints the picture: receive His words, treasure His commands, seek wisdom like silver, search for it like hidden treasure. In other words—go after it.
So here are three ways to start this week:
Easy: Read Matthew 5–7 (the Sermon on the Mount) in one sitting.
Medium: Read the book of James in one sitting.
Hard: Read one chapter of Proverbs a day for a month (there are 31 chapters—one for each day).
Open your Bible. Pray. Ask God for wisdom in a specific situation. Then act on what He says. Don’t do it alone—invite others to speak into your life and pray with you.
The Wisest Decision You’ll Ever Make
“By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil.” (Proverbs 16:6)
The fear of the Lord changes how you live. It turns you from evil and toward God. It produces a life marked by love and faithfulness.
And it all flows from responding to God’s love. He has shown us steadfast love through His Son. The right response is to fear Him—to humbly and heartily submit to Him and walk in His ways.
The wisest decision you can ever make is to fear the Lord.
Not just at the beginning, but all the way through. It is the beginning, the middle, and the end of wisdom.
Final Word
Do you want wisdom? Real wisdom—not the kind floating around online, but the kind that leads to life?
Then start here:
Fear the Lord.
Humble yourself before a good and holy God. Seek His counsel. Do what He says.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” (Proverbs 9:10)
Do you know the Holy One?
And are you wise enough to fear Him?
You can watch this sermon in its entirety on our YouTube page.