How many Christians do not treat their faith in a serious manner or take it for granted? Many get up and go to work or school, but they did not find time to talk to God? Undoubtedly, many Christians have some type of insurance (life, home, auto, medical, dental, etc.), but they see their spiritual lives as a bit trivial, like only praying when trouble comes their way.
Jesus was invited to a Pharisee’s house for dinner. A sinner woman learned of this and came to the house and began to wash the feet of Jesus with her tears, kissed them, and anointed them with oil. The Pharisee was critical of this, but Jesus asked him a question, “A creditor had two debtors, one owed a small amount while the other a large amount. The creditor forgave both debts, so which one was more grateful?” The Pharisee replied, “It is the one that was forgiven the most.” Then Jesus told the Pharisee, “You have answered correctly. Do you see this woman? When I entered your home, you did not give me water for my feet, but she wet my feet with tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not greet me with a kiss, but she has not stopped kissing my feet since I came in. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has poured perfumed oil on my feet. This is why I tell you that her many sins have been forgiven; so, she has shown great love. The one who is forgiven little loves little.” Then Jesus says to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” (Luke 7:36-48)
Basically, the people who love Christ little are not as intense about their faith in Jesus. You see, while individuals who have lived a good moral life that come to Jesus may ultimately discover that they are completely destroyed by their wicked hearts, yet it is those that have apparently lived immoral lives that are the ones that value Jesus the most because he has helped them. As they have come to Jesus in a serious manner, astounding things occur.
Are We Taking God Seriously?
Because we currently live in a critically challenging time, there must be a reason as to why people do not take God at His Word. Do we even take God seriously? Provided that this is true, how might we be aware? What is the significance here in taking God in such a grave manner? How can we say whether or not people are earnest about their confidence and faith in God?
Individuals who are serious about their faith do not mistake it for different convictions, loyalties, or blend them together aimlessly with the secular world’s belief system.
Individuals who are serious about their faith do not agree to, empower, or allow any infringement of its norms of conviction or conduct by its declared believers.
Individuals who are serious about their faith do not stay quiet about it, apologize for it, or allow it to be treated as if it had little or no effect, in their conduct or in their associations with others.
Individuals who are serious about their faith study the Scriptures, have a positive prayer life, and look for ways to lead others to Christ.
Individuals who are serious about their faith continually seek the Lord’s guidance in all aspects of their life.
I believe that the actual question that we should ask ourselves is this, “How do we go about taking God seriously?” Taking God seriously starts first by us having a “fear of the Lord.”
“The fear of the Lord” is a vital topic in the wisdom writing of the Bible, from the book of Job through the Song of Solomon. It means to have regard and adoration for God and to feel in wonder of His highness and power. This is the beginning stage to tracking down genuine wisdom.
Proverbs 1:7, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
Perhaps the most irritating sort of individual is a smart aleck, an individual who has an overbearing assessment on everything and who is shut to anything new. Solomon calls this sort of individual a braggart. We should not turn into or become a "know-it-all." All things being equal, we ought to be open to the guidance of others, particularly the people who are familiar with us and can give us significant insight and advice. We should ascertain how to gain understanding from others. Only God knows everything.
Proverbs 9:10, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”
Nobody can be really wise except if he fears the Lord. This is not only about respect, yet it does not infer panic and terror. The thought is one of lowliness, profound love, and surrender. The reason for fearing God in this manner is believing that He is sacred and abhors and rebuffs sin. The people who appropriately comprehend God's position have a reasonable perspective on the real world, prompting knowledge and improved results.
Psalm 111:10, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.”
The best way to turn out to be genuinely insightful is to fear (reverence) God. Time after time individuals try to skirt this progression, imagining that they can become savvy through life occurrences and scholastic information alone. Yet, if we do not recognize God as the wellspring of wisdom, then the core for using sound judgment is temperamental, and we are ill-fated to botches and stupid decisions. We ought to continuously recall that the establishment for wisdom is to perceive that God is the wellspring of wisdom and that to submit to His regulations is the way to gaining wisdom.
Proverbs 15:33, “The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.”
By reverencing the Lord, an individual increases in wisdom, yet he should lower himself to acquire that wisdom. He readily recognizes his dependence on the Lord for astuteness, and he unassumingly submits to the Lord's directions. An individual cannot begin with a mentality of haughtiness and hope to procure honor.
Proverbs 14:26-27, “In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.”
Reverencing the Lord constructs certainty. Neither troublesome individual conditions nor disturbing world occasions can shake the believer’s confirmation that God is in charge. The word fear interpreted here suggests regard and respect. In a believer, a solid regard for God and His truth assists an individual with keeping away from the results of transgression in their natural life. The children of the individual who loves the Lord partake in the Lord's security. The educating and illustration of a God-fearing adult impact the kids to the veneration of God.
That trusting, compliant submission to God's will delivers a nurturing stream, interfacing us to the honest love of our Creator (John 10:10). Confiding in the Lord as Savior brings plentiful, never-ending life (John 3:16; 4:13-14; 10:10). Additionally, showing respect to God brings about a reviving, intentional life. By respectfully fearing the Lord, an individual stays away from the normal outcomes of transgression and malevolence (Proverbs 12:28; 13:13-14). That security reaches out past the natural life; creatures caught in a trap face demise, yet the believer will not face eternal death (John 10:27-28).
Proverbs 8:13, “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.”
The more an individual regards and fears God, the more the person will not stand evil. Having a love for God and a love for transgression cannot coincide. Holding onto secret sins implies that we are enduring evil inside ourselves. We should make a total separation from transgression and commit ourselves totally to God.
Psalm 19:9, “The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.”
The “fear of the Lord” appears as though a weird term for the law God provided for Israel, however the Law was expected to help individuals of Israel to fear the Lord. The significance of fear here, is the old feeling of significant regard, lowliness, and acknowledgment. This is not a feeling of terror, however but of respect. This assertion calls attention to that respectful anxiety toward the Lord is spotless and perseveres until the end of time. Not at all like false religions that are polluted, God's Word is pure and never-ending. An appointed authority might deliver an off-base decision, yet God's decisions are valid, and they are completely exemplary.
Isaiah 33:6, “And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the Lord is his treasure.”
The treasures of God are abundantly more than our needs, and He provides salvation and wisdom to the individuals who accept and respect Him and His sovereignty.
To take God seriously is to have a reverential fear of God. By doing so we gain true spiritual wisdom and knowledge on how we are to live, how to work, and how to teach others. We can be assured that God will do what He says that He will do.
