The Beginning That Leads to the Goal

Where does one begin the pursuit of wisdom and discipline?  Solomon answers:  "The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge. Wisdom and discipline are what mere fools have despised." (Proverbs 1:7) Knowledge begins with the fear of Jehovah. Without knowledge there can be no wisdom or discipline.  The fear of Jehovah, then, is the start of wisdom and discipline. -Proverbs 9:10; 15:33.

The fear of God is not a morbid dread of him. Rather, it is a profound reverence and awe.  There can be no true knowledge without this fear.  Life is from Jehovah God, and life is, of course, essential for our having any knowledge.  (Psalm 36:9; Acts 17:25, 28) Furthermore, God created all things; so all human knowledge is based on a study of his handiwork.  (Psalm 19:1, 2; Revelation 4:11)  God also inspired  his written Word, which is "beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness." (2 Timothy 3:16, 17) Thus, the focal point of all true knowledge is Jehovah, and a person seeking it must have reverential fear of him. 

Of what value are human knowledge and worldly wisdom without the fear of God?  The apostle Paul wrote: "Where is the wise man? Where the scribe? Where the debater of this system of things?  Did not God make the wisdom of the world foolish?" (1 Corinthians 1:20) Lacking godly fear, a worldly -wise person draws wrong conclusions from known facts and ends up a 'mere fool.' 

Next time: A "Necklace to Your Throat"

From the Watchtower magazine, 1999