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Proverbs 1:7 — “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Every building must have a foundation, and in the pursuit of wisdom, that foundation is the fear of the Lord. This fear is not a trembling terror of a cruel master but a deep reverence and awe before the holy God. To fear the Lord is to recognize who He is and who we are in comparison—to bow before His majesty and submit to His authority. Without this posture of humility, true wisdom can never begin.

The world prides itself on knowledge, technology, and progress, yet much of it is built without God. It is like constructing a skyscraper on sand—impressive on the surface but doomed to collapse. Scripture declares that to reject the fear of the Lord is to be a fool, regardless of one’s education or intelligence. A fool despises correction, refuses instruction, and lives as if God’s Word has no authority.

On the other hand, those who fear the Lord find the doorway into true wisdom. Reverence for God shapes our choices, directs our steps, and anchors us in truth when the world shifts. It teaches us to turn from evil, to seek righteousness, and to value what pleases God above all else. Wisdom begins not with self-confidence but with God-confidence—acknowledging Him in all our ways.

This fear is not something we outgrow; it is something we deepen. As our understanding of God’s greatness expands, so does our reverence. The wisest men and women are those most aware of their dependence on Him. Solomon himself, who penned these words, was at his wisest when he prayed, “Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart.”

The question for us is simple: do we fear the Lord? Do we live daily with reverence for His presence, submission to His Word, and awe of His majesty? The foundation of wisdom is not in ourselves but in Him. To build on any other ground is to build in vain.