Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

John 3:18-21 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.

You Obey What You Fear

The first time I saw a whale shark, I was standing against the glass of an enormous aquarium. Suddenly a spotted creature of unbelievable size glided slowly by, just a few feet in front of me. It was truly unnerving. I was in no danger, and whale sharks don’t even eat people (or so they say), but it was so big that I was a little shaken by the experience. The beginning of wisdom, or the start of not being a fool, is understanding that God is wiser than you are. The fear of God is the awesome recognition that God is powerful and wise beyond all of your comprehension. That’s even more amazing than a whale shark swimming right in front of your face. If you want to be wise, that starts with understanding that God knows better than you. Not just about some things; God knows better than you about everything. That is part of what makes Him God and makes you you. You need God. He does not need you, but in His love for you, He grants you His wisdom. Proverbs is full of knowledge and wisdom for you, and you need all of it. Not everyone loves and trusts God, but the people who do love, fear (honor and revere), and trust God are truly wise.

1. What situation have you gone through where you were grateful and glad that your mom or dad was with you?

2. How do you know that God is wiser than you?

3. How do we get wisdom from God? Read John 3:18–21.

4. Proverbs 1:7 and John 3:18–21 talk about the benefits of trusting God. What are those benefits according to these verses?

5. After reading these two passages, write think about two or three questions you have about these verses.

6. What other verses in the Bible help to answer your questions?

7. What do you think is the most important idea of these two passages, John 3:18–21 and Proverbs 1:7?

8. What do these verses ask you to think, feel, or do?