Jun 25 Wed
Should I fear God?
What is the meaning of "the fear of the Lord"? The Scripture says: “If you cry out for wisdom and raise your voice for understanding, if you look for it as for silver, and search for it as for a treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord."
Thus, we must look for wisdom to learn and acquire the fear of the Lord.
“Fear” is not to be taken in the sense that common usage gives it. We are afraid because of a guilty conscience, or an attack from one who is stronger, sickness, or encountering a wild beast. This kind of fear is not taught: it happens because we are weak. We do not have to learn what we should fear: these objects of fear bring their own terror with them.
However, the real fear of the Lord must be learned, because it can be taught. It has to be acquired by obedience to the commandments, by holiness of life, and by knowledge of the truth.
The fear of God consists wholly in love of God, who wants us to obey his commandments. Man realizes the enormous difference between the Creator and the creature, between the divine holiness and the human fragility. Our love for God is entrusted with its own responsibility: to observe his counsels, to obey his laws, to trust his promises. Thus, we must learn to have fear to avoid cutting our link with God by sin.
So, the fear of offending God gives us prudence –to seek the right way of acting– and serenity. It is gift of God to fight against sin.
“He who continues to delight in wickedness, what wonder is it if he fears death and judgement? Nevertheless, it is good that, if the love of God does not restrain you from sin, the fear of hell at least should restrain you. For he who sets aside the fear of God cannot continue in a good life for long, but will rapidly fall into the snares of the Devil." (The Imitation of Christ)
“Show us, O our good Master, some way in which we may live through life’s most dangerous warfare without frequent surprise. The best way that we can do this, daughters, is to use the LOVE and FEAR given to us by His Majesty. For love will make us quicken our steps, while fear of the Lord will make us look where we are setting our feet, so that we shall not fall on a road where there are so many obstacles. Along that road, all living creatures must pass, and if we have these two things, we shall certainly not be deceived.
Love and fear of God! These are two strong castles from which we can wage war on the world and on the devils." (St Teresa)
Pic: Jesus washes the disciples' feet. Chinese painting.