TO FEAR OR NOT TO FEAR THAT IS THE QUESTION

            We have many people today that feel that serving God out of fear is not a viable reason for service. They have a valid point in saying that love of God is the motive of service. However fear is found 400 times in the Bible and there are some very fine verses that tell us the virtues of fear.

            To answer the question of whether or not to fear God we must first notice what fearing Him means. In the Old Testament the main word for fear is “Yare” meaning “Reverence”. However in the New Testament the main word is “Phobeo” meaning “terror”. There is the advice in Matthew 10:28 “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” This tells us who to fear and who not to fear. Fear of God is certainly commanded by Christ to the apostles of Christ in sending them out on the limited commission. Further in Hebrews 4:1 we are told as Christians, “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.” Some soften this command by saying that only means seeming to come short of it. But the original actually means “let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.” This teaches that we can lose heaven even after becoming a Christian. So fear of God is necessary to propel us to labor to enter that rest. Hebrews 4:11 – “Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.”

            There is also the statement in Luke 12:32 “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”  Here the establishment of the kingdom with its attendant blessings is promised. He is in this area also encouraging them and us to not be afraid of there being no gospel blessings available because they are and will be throughout the gospel dispensation.

            What then is the meaning of I John 4:18 – “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” Here he is talking about what loving humble submission to God in Reverential fear produces. It will insulate us from terror when we stand in His presence. It is the knowledge that God loves us and we love Him. Due to our love we serve God with all our might turning away from evil and doing good. Approaching God with the assurance we have lived the best we can for Him does away with the dread of the judgment. It also does away with the fear of men that causes so many to turn from the faith.

            So the answer to the question of life is that we are to fear and we are not to fear based on the subject under consideration.

            In Proverbs the wise man Solomon gives us the Virtues of fear. He is using the Hebrew term “Yare” which means reverence for God. Reverence for God would cause a dread to displease him. Let us look at some of these proverbs.

            1. Proverbs 1:7 – “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge”. When we reverence God we approach the knowledge of anything with the understanding that He is creator and the one who blesses. We see things through a different eye. God is in all and through all and above all. It makes us say, “O LORD OUR LORD HOW EXCELLENT IS THY NAME IN ALL THE EARTH” Psalms 8:1. Have a healthy fear of God.

            2. Proverbs 3:7 – “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.” The fear of God will keep us from stealing, committing adultery, telling lies, defrauding, and coveting, while producing good children, loving parents, and fine citizens of any country.
 
            3. Proverbs 8:13 – “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.” People without the fear of God “have pleasure in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:32). That is the reason so much evil is seen in the world. It is entertaining to them for people to be drunks, engage in adultery, do acts of sodomy, steal, rob, and kill their fellowmen. If men would realize that God hates such acts and that they are accountable to Him they wouldn’t do evil nor be pleased with evil.

            4. Proverbs 14:26 – “In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.” Confidence for quality living is found in the fear of God. Care and provision for children is found in fear of God. Society is blessed when people fear God. They also have confidence in blessings and favor and especially in death.

            5. Proverbs 14:27 – “The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.” It enhances the quality of life. It keeps us from doing things that would ruin our health and thus cause pre mature death. Fearing God causes us to say, “The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want” (Ps.23:1). All the blessings of the 23rd Psalm will be ours.

            6. Proverbs 15:16 – “Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.” Riches produce many problems. There are many people trying to get what the rich have. There are many worries over their possession. However on the other hand when we fear God we trust God and he gives to all men richly. (I Timothy 6:17). Confidence and trust give a far better feeling of security than riches.

            7. Proverbs 19:23 – “The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.” Fear of God just makes us satisfied with our lot in life and we do our best to get along with others. It is a wonderful blessing to us.

            8. Proverbs 22:4 – “By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.” When one does away with pride and seeking glory and honor then he is indeed honored by good men. His presence in a community is respected. His style of life is admired. And all are blessed to have him as a neighbor. He prospers in what he does and his riches are tempered with a trust in God that causes him to be helpful to those in need.
           
            Conclusion:  We are to fear God. This will cause us to take heed to our ways because we will know that we must give account to Him. It is by fear of the Lord that men depart from evil. (Proverbs 16:6). It is fear of God that causes obedience to Him (Ecclesiastes 12:13). When there is no fear of God before people’s eyes they do all kinds of evil (Romans 3:9-20).

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