FEAR JEHOVAH AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS

"Fear the true God and keep his commandments. For this is the whole obligation of man.' -ECCLESIASTES  12:13.


"JUST as courage imperils life, fear protects it," observed Leonardo da Vinci. Bravado, or foolhardy courage, blinds a man to danger, whereas fear reminds him to be careful.  For example, if we near the edge of a cliff and see how far down we could fall, most of us instinctively move back.  Similarly, a wholesome fear not only promotes a good relationship with God, as we learned in the preceding article, but also help safeguard us from injury.

Fear of may modern-day hazards, however, has to be learned.  Since young children are unaware  of the dangers of electricity or city traffic, they can easily have a serious accident.  Wise parents try to instill a wholesome fear in their offspring, warning them again and again of surrounding dangers.  Parents know that this fear may well save their children's life.

Jehovah has a similar concern for our well-being.  As a loving Father, he teaches us through his Word and his organization, to benefit ourselves.  (Isaiah 48:17)  Part of this divine teaching program involves warning us "again and again" about spiritual pitfalls so that we can develop a healthy fear of such danger.  (2 Chronicles 36:15;  2 Peter 3:1)) Throughout history many spiritual disasters could have been avoided and much suffering averted 'if only people had developed   this heart of theirs to fear God and keep his commandments.'  (Deuteronomy 5:29)  In these "critical times hard to deal with,"
 how can we develop our heart to fear God and keep out of spiritual danger? -2 Timothy 3:1.

Next time: FEAR JEHOVAH AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS -Turn Away From Bad

The Watchtower, 2001