Healthy Fear Is A Good Thing

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

Dear friend, fear is not always a bad thing. In the book of Proverbs we find the word “fear” mentioned 28 times. The FEAR OF THE LORD is a good thing, for it is the beginning of wisdom. I am a happy man, because I fear God all the time. Proverbs 28:14, “Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.” Heathy fear keeps us out of trouble! King David confirmed this truth when he exclaimed in Psalms 36:1, “The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.” David said when he saw people committing wicked sins, it evidenced to him that those sinners did not fear God's judgment against them in the future.

Again we read in Romans 3:18, “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Mankind is sinful both by nature and by choice. A little baby doesn't need to be taught how to get angry, throw a fit in a temper tantrum, and do wrong; it is inherently a part of that child's nature as a human being. When Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden, he opened the floodgate of sin upon the human race, and by sin so came death. Romans 5:12, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”

There are THREE major areas of fear in a person's lifetime that is HEALTHY:

1. fear of parents
2. fear of the law
3. fear of God

Fear Of Parents

During the Black Lives Matter crisis in 2020, we saw how adults who grew up without parental discipline behave. Millions of adult brats wickedly burned down stranger's businesses, set fire to police stations, beat innocent citizens and destroyed communities, just to get their point across that they demanded police reform nationwide to deal with cop abuse.

To not properly discipline an unruly child is a form of child abuse. God put that padded area in the back for a good reason—for spankings. Proverbs 20:30, “The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.” To clarify, no parent should ever strike a child with a solid object, such as a stick or a board. The board of education ought not be a big wooden club! My parents used to spank me as a child with a leather belt (which was VERY effective to teach me to obey... lol). I loved my parents and I knew that they loved me. I had a healthy fear of Mom and Dad (especially Dad) if I disobeyed the rules in our home. Both of my parents are now in Heaven with Jesus, and I miss them.

Did you know that the Bible says you hate your children if you fail to discipline them. Proverbs 13:24, “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.” The word “betimes” here simply means early in the child's developmental stage. I am against all forms of child abuse. Unfortunately, many people don't know what constitutes “child abuse.” When I was a teenager, my parents had stopped spanking me a long time ago, so they would make me stand in the corner for an hour sometimes as chastisement. Today, many people would consider that a form of child abuse, which it certainly is not. Being grounded by your parents is not child abuse, it is tough love and proper discipline for a misbehaving teenager. Good parents will properly discipline their sons and daughters!

The Proverbs
(read by Alexander Scourby, 1913-1985)

I love the Old Testament book of Proverbs, because it gives us WISDOM. We all desperately need wisdom. What saith the Scripture? Proverbs 4:7, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” The Bible says that wisdom is the most important commodity that we need, therefore we should seek it diligently.

A child who has been properly trained will feel sorrow that they've hurt Mom's and Dad's feeling by doing wrong. No parent should ever apply discipline until the child has first admitted of their own accord that they've done wrong. To discipline a child when they still think they don't deserve to be punished, will harden their heart. You should never spank or discipline a child until they first admit they've done wrong. Also, punishment should never be applied suddenly, by jerking the child in anger. No parent should ever discipline a child in anger. There should be a cooling down period, so that any discipline will be administered justly with love.

Fear Of The Law

A healthy fear of the law, courts and police is a good thing. When criminals no longer fear the police, they are headed for destruction. Proverbs 14:16, “A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.” If you feel some degree of apprehension or fear when a police car is driving behind your vehicle, that is a good and normal thing. If you have a valid driver's license, valid vehicle plates, and are living within the confines of the law, then you have no reason to be afraid. Fear of the law and being afraid of law enforcement are two different things. Likewise, a child should fear parental discipline, but not be afraid of Mom and Dad. And also, we should fear God, but we don't need to be afraid of Him unless we are living in wickedness. Living with healthy fear will keep us from doing bad things which will then cause us to be afraid. That is good advice! Proverbs 3:7, “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.”

Fear Of God

Happy is the man who feareth always the Bible says. You can either wear a yoke of wood by abstaining from sin, or you can wear a yoke of iron by committing sin. It is MUCH better to wear a yoke of wood dear friend, then to forge for yourself an unbearable yoke of iron of addiction, prison, loss of health, loss of family and friends, and the guilt that comes from sin. Wearing a yoke of wood is a good deal, when all else is considered.

Proverbs 14:2, “He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.” Proverbs 15:16, “Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.” I fear God. In fact, the Bible teaches that man's whole duty is to FEAR GOD AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS. Ecclesiastes 12:13, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” Fear of God is a good thing!!!

One day in eternity we all have to be held accountable by God (Romans 14:10-12). Sadly, most people don't believe that, or don't care, so they live in sin and continue hurting people. The man who fears God will love his neighbour as himself. The man who fears God fears hurting anybody for any reason. It is because I fear and love God that I want to think right, live right and do right at all times. So a certain amount of healthy fear is always a good thing, because it keeps us on our toes and out of trouble. Thank you for reading my blog.