The Beginning of Knowledge

An American scholar has estimated that, if all of man's accumulated knowledge from the beginning of recorded history to 1845 were represented by one inch, what he learned from 1845 until 1945 would amount to three inches and what he learned from 1945 until 1975 would represent the height of the Washington Monument! Since 1975 then it has probably more than doubled.

The question is, does the incredible leap in scientific, technological, and other such knowledge also mean an incredible leap in wisdom? Our experience of man’s failure in political stability, economic security, sustainable morality, eradication of poverty and many other areas tells us that we, as a human race, more often fail to apply the vast new areas of knowledge wisely and in the best interest of all. Selfishness and greed, to name but two deadly sins, often destroy the opportunities created by the amazing increase of knowledge in our world.

When we as a church pursue growth in knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, it should also mean a growth in wisdom, where wisdom means the ability to apply our knowledge in order to accomplish our purposes and callings. We hope this will be the result but, again, we find that this is not necessarily the case.

In Proverbs 1: 7 we read: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

What is the fear of the LORD?
It means, amongst other things, that our God is the One and Only God. He is the Creator and Manager of the universe. He is the God who desires a relationship with us. He is the God who loves us in Jesus Christ.
He is the God who spoke to Job and said:
(Job 38:4-5) "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand. (5) Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! who stretched a measuring line across it?

He is the God about whom Isaiah said:
(Is 40:14 and18) Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge or showed him the path of understanding? (18) To whom, then, will you compare God? What image will you compare him to?
Our God is awesome, almighty, holy, glorious, infinite, invisible, and completely wise.

What does it mean to "fear" the LORD? Fear in this context means having a relationship with God, based on a worshipping attitude of praise and thanksgiving. Fear means to obediently and faithfully walk in God's ways, because you have some understanding of whom God said that he is. Fear means to love the LORD with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Fear means to live for the LORD and his glory.

I think of the women at the empty tomb of Jesus. When they met the resurrected Christ they clasped his feet and worshiped him (Mt 28:10). We can say that they feared the LORD.
I also think of Thomas. He saw the risen LORD. He saw the pierced hands and side. And he said, "My LORD and my God!" (Jn 20:28). It took a while, but he eventually feared the LORD too.

What is the beginning of Knowledge?
The Bible says "the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge." What is meant by "beginning of knowledge"? The knowledge this verse speaks of is not just facts. Knowledge, in this verse, means living out what you have learned. It means taking what the Bible says and applying it in my relationship with the LORD.

Our verse says, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge." The fear of the LORD, in other words, is the basis, the foundation, the first and controlling principle behind all learning, all knowledge, all education. Without a fear of the LORD, all that you will have is facts, but no knowledge, figures but no wisdom, details but no understanding, rules and laws but no morality, knowledge of the historical Jesus, without having a relationship with him.

Point the children and youth under your care to Jesus. Encourage them to make a commitment for Jesus. For that's the beginning point of all knowledge, learning and education. This is true for adults as well. As adults gather for study and fellowship they too need to be pointed again and again to Jesus and the necessity of a living relationship with him. Without that relationship all our study and all our learning comes to nothing.
Only fools despise wisdom and disciplined learning…

The starting point is the fear of the Lord. The ending point is knowledge and wise living for God.
Do you know what lies in-between?
The preaching, teaching and study of God's Word.

We need to spend enough time with the Bible. We need to feed our souls. We need family and personal devotions. We need faithful attendance of all worship services. We need to participate in Bible Study.

We need to feed our souls with God’s Word until we own the knowledge that will make us wise, because we fear the LORD that we love, our Saviour!