The Ultimate Fear

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." Proverbs 9:10
If I had a dollar for every time I heard a verse...  Many of this have not only memorized this passage - we know it well enough to have turned it into meaningless repetition. Which is exactly the opposite of what we should be doing with it.  As we look around us, and the decisions that many are making, and the fear that drives them, we wonder: "How can they act that way?" Answer: "There is no fear of God in their eyes." They have fears, but they are misplaced. Fear can be, and most often is, misplaced.  We become anxious about things we cannot control; we fear mere men and do what they say; we ignore God, the One Who made all things, controls all things, owns all things, and will judge all things.  Fear and Trust are interesting in their inter-relationship.  When we fear God, understanding our relationship with Him, we learn to trust Him.  When we fear other things, they lord it over our lives in a very harsh and dehumanizing way. Step 1, the beginning, of meaningful life is to fear and trust God as our Maker and loving Father. Then, we continue on, getting to know Him, His Word, and His will. When we do, the other "fears" of life all fall into place and perspective. We can make wise choices, even in the midst of fools.