only the beginning....

After church, Danny said he was proud of me. Nice feeling, nice words.
Half way through his sermon, Pastor David said, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of .....Cindy?" and he dramatically pointed at me. Oh he knew i knew, doesn't everyone know, I guess maybe not... Danny didn't.

"Wisdom," I answered not missing a beat. I think Pastor David likes having me there. I listen with everything I've got. I react, I answer, I invest myself in the moment. Once I stuck my hand out for the apple he was using as an illustration, I hadn't had time for dinner and I knew God meant it for me. I got it too.

That verse of Solomon's... the beginning of wisdom, the beginning, it's a place to start, I guess, fearing God. People try to say that doesn't really mean 'fear' but like 'awe' or 'respect' or something. Well, it feels the same to me. Wisdom begins with the realization of how amazing, powerful, pure and holy God is and I'm not. This is where the 'fear' word works. God is all those things and I am not. I am so far from any of those things. I have no hope of attaining any of those things without Him, there's no more room for pride in ourselves.
Pr 11:2
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
Pr 15:33
The fear of the Lord teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor.

The fear of God points out our need and God's perfection and our complete inability. Once that humble realization is reached we can go on with knowing God which is really what wisdom is all about.
So if fear is the beginning of wisdom where do we go from there?

One of the homegirls said today, "It's the difference of having to do something and wanting to do something. If I help my mom because I love her and want to, it's different and feels better than having to do it 'cause she's making me."


Yeah, it is! Way different. The whole situation and relationship changes with the heart change.
Wisdom isn't really about 'fear'ing God! It's about being fearful enough of God to get humble enough that we see ourselves clearly in the light of His All-Encompassing Love. And then, oh and then, we can ask Him...just ask Him! Check it!!

James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.


Did you get that? If you really got that you should be choking up a little bit, which reminds me of the time, I just started weeping during P.Diddie's sermon (that's what Danny calls Pastor David:)
but don't call him that he hates it. Don't worry he never reads my blog.

Anyways, 'Without finding fault!' oh baby...God is so not out to get us. He's just waiting for us to let Him love us. Pride and self-satisfaction get in the way of Him giving us wisdom, love, anything, except for maybe physical blessings. I think fear of the Lord can help remove that wall to God's love and the wisdom of knowing Him intimately. But like the homey-g's say, 'it can't stop there at fear.' We need to keep on in our relationship with the Creator.
Here's Paul's take on it: Col.2:
2 My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Our Messiah, Jesus the One who gave all for us, who holds all the treasure of wisdom, is just waiting for our hearts to be humble enough to seek after Him. Let's find our way to that next step beyond fear, beyond the 'have to's. Let's press on to know Him as Hosea says, 'Press on to know the Lord of heaven and earth, don't ya just 'want to?'