SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 9:11 “The fear of the LORD is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment”
MESSAGE: If you study the above scripture in Proverbs 9:11 deeply, you are bound to have a clearer illumination that the fear of the Lord is just the beginning of wisdom, but not the totality of wisdom. Have you ever bothered to find out why there are so many God-fearing people in our churches and communities who are very wretched? Is it not true that sometime most of those devoted believers wind up so poor and die as beggars living their families in abject poverty? The truth about the condition of this type of believers is that they are operating under ignorance. They fear the Lord but yet they are operating within the foundational level of wisdom without adequate knowledge and understanding of how to live as Christians and experience growth in their lives. This is why the bible tells us in Hosea 4:6 “My people perish because of lack of knowledge”.
To achieve success in life, you need to move beyond just being a God-fearing man or woman to a person with deeper understanding on how to grow your life and become an achiever. The fear of the Lord is just the first step in the realm of wisdom for successful living. Total wisdom to become a total man demands that you must plan, set goals, acquire education, skills, persevere in your dream and continue to grow to your destined station in life.
In 2 Kings chapter 4, the bible tells us an instructive story of a devoted prophet of God who died poor and the creditor came to take away his two sons as slaves. The widow approached Prophet Elisha and lamented, “my husband your servant who served you is dead and you know how he feared the Lord. But now a creditor has come threatening to take my two sons as slaves”. The prophet in the bible story ended up wretched because he did not have sound judgement and understanding of the thoughts of God towards him to give him a prosperous end (Jeremiah 29:11).
The pathetic situation such as the story in 2Kings 4 perhaps informed Apostle Paul to write the book of Ephesians to a group of believers in his time who were so devoted to God but yet leaving as beggars. He prayed that their eyes of understanding be illuminated that they may know the hope and thoughts of God towards them (Ephesians 1:18).
As 2020 grinds to a close and we prepare to enter 2021, the first step on how to fear God and become an achiever in life is to plan and set your goals for the incoming year. First and foremost, you have to consider what you want to achieve in the coming year and write them down. Make your goals specific, measureable, attainable, relevant and within a timeline. Then plan the steps you must take to realize your goals and pray to God to guide and supply all your needs for the achievement of your goals.
Now what do you desire to achieve next year? Do you wish to marry, start your company, open a business, enrol in a school? Just plan and set your goals because those who fail to plan, plan to fail.
PRAYER: My father and my God, cause your mercy to take me from 2020 to 2021. Give me new and creative ideas to use and set my goals for 2021. As I set new goals for the coming year, Lord may your grace support me to meet all my targets (name them) in Jesus name-Ame
