Parenting by the Book
STUDY 14
Text: Proverbs 10:27
30 September 2001
THE CONCEPT OF “THE FEAR OF THE LORD”
Dear Parents,
“THE FEAR OF THE LORD PROLONGS DAYS…” PROVERBS 10:27
The concept of the fear of the Lord is multi-faceted. In this verse, this concept is taught in conjunction with the blessing of a long life.
Sometimes, we read in the newspapers or in news magazines of how some children make attempts to commit suicide. In some countries, like Japan, Korea and Singapore, this is a problem that disturbs both parents and the government authorities.
All sorts of things are blamed. Pressures in school, parents, and children are all blamed for this ugly and sad phenomenon of suicide. Suicide is never caused by a single factor. Usually, there are a number of reasons that cause a person to think that life has little or no meaning at all.
Usually, “fear” is blamed as one of the reasons that drive people to attempt suicide! In this particular instance, we are told that “the fear of the LORD prolongs days”. How do we understand this proverb? Let us consider the following thoughts!
1. When a person has learned how to fear the Lord, blessings follow! One of the blessings is a love for life. The person who loves the Lord will also learn to love life as a gift from Him, and thus he will seek to live that life as fully as possible.
2. The fear of the Lord leads to the Lord preserving the life of the individual. The person who loves and fears the Lord would be blessed with long life.
3. The person who fears the Lord would also recognize that fact that he ought not to attempt suicide. He fears the Lord in a very healthy way and he knows that it is wrong to commit suicide.
When the concept of the fear of the Lord is taught properly, our children should be lots happier and better adjusted in life! The teaching of the fear of the Lord should not result in children having a negative and morose attitude towards life!
“BUT THE YEARS OF THE WICKED WILL BE SHORTENED” PROVERBS 10:27
This proverb considers the fact that when a person does not have the fear of the Lord in his heart, there is a grave danger that he has become wicked. The concept of the fear of the Lord is now contrasted with a person who is described as “wicked”.
The wicked are people who obviously have little or no regard for the Lord at all. They can become very defiant and rebellious. They can attempt many cruel and wicked deeds. Wicked people can end up hurting people very badly.
Wickedness will always be dealt with by the Lord. There are times when wickedness reaches such an appalling degree that God steps in and ends the life of the individual abruptly. The cutting short of a person’s life is often a sign of God’s displeasure. However, it would be wrong to conclude that whenever a person dies at a young age, it means that he is a wicked person!
Let us be challenged to pray much as we teach our children how to fear the Lord!
Prayerfully,
Pastor Charlie