The Fear of the Lord Is the Beginning of Wisdom
Proverbs 9:9-10
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For by me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you.”
We all start life without knowledge, understanding or wisdom. A baby naturally soaks in knowledge, but the most important understanding and wisdom don’t come naturally. “A reverence of God’s majesty, and a dread of his wrath, are the first steps toward true religion” (Matthew Henry’s Commentary, note on Proverbs 9:10).
Wisdom brings many benefits, including, on average, a longer physical life, and even more important, the opportunity for eternal life.
For more about the fear of the Lord, see “Fear of the Lord: What Does It Mean?”