“This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today. This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance … Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort. The joy and moral stimulation of work no longer must be forgotten in the mad chase of evanescent profits. These dark days will be worth all they cost us if they teach us that our true destiny is not to be ministered unto but to minister to ourselves and to our fellow men”
- FDR Inaugural Address March 1933
“ Recognition of the falsity of material wealth as the standard of success goes hand in hand with the abandonment of the false belief that public office and high political position are to be valued only by the standards of pride of place and personal profit; and there must be an end to a conduct in banking and in business which too often has given to a sacred trust the likeness of callous and selfish wrongdoing. Small wonder that confidence languishes, for it thrives only on honesty, on honor, on the sacredness of obligations, on faithful protection, on unselfish performance; without them it cannot live.8 Restoration calls, however, not for changes in ethics alone. This Nation asks for action, and action now.” - FDR’s Inaugural Address in March 1933
History tends to repeat itself when we don’t put fear where it belongs.
When it comes to fearing people, circumstances, and thoughts that have not come to fruition- they don’t do us much good but placing fear where it truly belongs brings fruitful results.
Proverbs 9:10 “Fear of the LORD is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.”
Proverbs 1:7 “Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.”
Proverbs 14:27 “Fear of the LORD is a life-giving fountain; it offers escape from the snares of death.”
Proverbs 15:33 “Fear of the LORD teaches wisdom; humility precedes honor.”
Deuteronomy 13:4 “Serve only the LORD your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him.”
“-you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, “You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off; fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:9-10
I don’t know why this is but for a majority fear and reverence for God does not come until they come under the enlightenment of Jesus Christ. For all of us, we come to God out for self-preservation reasoning. We come to God for eternal life in heaven not hell. We come to God for a better life. We come to God because the life we sought gave us no sustaining nourishment. We came to God because the life we had was miserable. We came to God because we worried and feared the things in this life. We came to God because we felt our life was worthless and pointless. We came to God because there was no other way out of the hole we found ourselves in. We came to God because he had showed us his faithfulness in our unfaithfulness. We came to God after we swam deep within ourselves and found this shiny seed that instinctively pointed us to God. I would even say those lucky enough to be “broken” by pride, folly, and false idols (such as money, religion, and possessions and popularity) do come to God after seeing how fragile life is. Of course you have those who put their soul hope in other human beings and in the material things of this world instead of God and end of up losing their soul one way or another instead of giving their life to the one who could save it.
“And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites when he judges. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time as foreigners hereon earth. For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. He paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.” 1 Peter 1:17-19
“Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And because God raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory, your faith and hope can be placed confidently in God.” 1 Peter 1:21
Through Christ one comes to trust in God. Through Christ we see how holy and awesome God truly is. And who better to fear then the LORD who made your very soul? If you are in the LORD then there is nothing else to fear. There is freedom in the LORD.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity but of power, love and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7
It is impossible to live in power, love and self-discipline when we are not living according to the spirit and not understanding who God truly is.
In the Enlightenment of Jesus Christ we start to understand the importance of having reverence and fear of God.
“As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life. He has called us to receive his own glory and goodness! And by that same mighty power, he has given us all of his rich and wonderful promises. He has promised that you will escape the decadence all around you caused by evil desires and that you will share in his divine nature. So make every effort to apply the benefits of these promises to your life. Then your faith will produce a life of moral excellence. A life of moral excellence leads to know God better. Knowing God leads to self-control. Self-control leads to patient endurance and patient endurance leads to godliness. Godliness leads to love for other Christians, and finally you will grow to have genuine love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more you will become productive and useful in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop these virtues are blind or, at least very shortsighted. They have already forgotten that God has cleansed them from their old life of sin. So dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Doing this, you will never stumble or fall away. And God will open wide the gates of heaven for you to enter into eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:3-11
Living in the faith of Jesus Christ = comes a life of moral excellence.
Moral excellence =knowing God better.
Knowing God better =Self Control. (Dependence on God through Holy Spirit)
Self-control =to patient endurance.
Patient endurance= godliness.
Godliness= love for other Christians.
Grow in this understanding=become productive and useful in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Think about this. You are in a stressful situation. You know how Jesus wants you to live. You have a choice to depend on your feelings, thoughts, understandings, circumstances, imaginations which lead you to unwarranted fear, anxiety, stress, and paralyzing reasoning OR trust in God who gives you the self-control. You trust God and you are able to patiently endure the stressful situation and act appropriately instead of taking out your stress on those around you. Hence the more you live in this mindset of Christ you are able to live in godliness regardless of the circumstances around you and are able to love and be productive vessels for God. You are sustained in the ways of the Lord not in the ways the flesh which often doesn’t put fear where it rightfully belongs.
This is not saying you have to work to earn your salvation. Salvation is a gift from God made only possible through Jesus Christ. It saying it is impossible to live in enlightenment and in a life of moral excellence if you “don’t” keep your thoughts on how Jesus Christ wants you to live through the Holy Spirit. Without the guidance and acknowledgment of God we do foolish and shameful and even destructive things.
(Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” I say, “I can’t see your faith if you don’t have good deeds, but I will show you faith through my good deeds.” Do you think it’s enough just to believe that there is one God? Well, even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror! Fool! When will you ever learn that faith that does not result in good deeds is useless?) James 2:18-20
James is saying your faith in Jesus Christ should result in godly actions.
“… be even more careful to put into action God’s saving work in your lives, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him.” Philippians 2:12-13
God’s “saving work” is the Holy Spirit who Jesus Christ sends to those who have faith in him. The Holy Spirit reminds and motivates us in how we should live as representatives of Jesus Christ. God ways sustains us as well as remind us to have a healthy amount of respect for God who we will have to answer for our actions.
Fear of God can advance us in living a successful productive godly lifestyle in Christ.
Hope these notes were helpful to you.
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