A cursory glance of the Bible reveals a number of admonitions against fear (one scholar has enumerated 366 commands not to fear).  So what does it mean to fear God?  The lack of understanding could be attributed to the limitations of our language.  There is fear that produces cowardice and can literally immobilize us.  This is the type of fear the Apostle Paul describes in 2 Timothy 1:7,

For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.

That however, should not be our attitude toward God.  The fear of God is a healthy respect for who He is and what He can do.  I learned this lesson in flight school.  Before we went flying we would conduct a detailed pre-flight rather than simply kick the tire, light the fire, and brief on guard.  We prepared for the flight because we had a healthy fear of the power of the aircraft.  We were not fearful about going flying but we respected the power and performance of our aircraft.

The problem is we can be prone to confuse these two types of fears and we fear what we are not to fear and we don’t have a proper fear of God.  Oswald Chambers wisely points out,

The remarkable thing about fearing God is that when you fear God you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God you fear everything else. (Run Today’s Race)

The proper attitude is to fear of God and yet not be afraid of Him.  When you see God as He truly is His perfect love can eclipse your unhealthy fears,

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.  (1 John 4:18)

You will discover it is only the fear of God that will free you from the fear of man.  It’s noteworthy that one of the wisest men who lived wrote these words,

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.  (Proverbs 9:10)

As you walk in the fear of the Lord and you will discover courage to face the world.  Be encouraged by God’s words to Joshua as he was about to enter the promised land,

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.  (Joshua 1:9)

Joshua’s proper view of God enabled him to overcome his fear of the task before him and the same is true for you!

Rick Higgins

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University