In the Bible the expression “fear of the Lord” is used quite often. For instance, in the Proverbs this fear is called “the beginning of knowledge” (1:7, NASU). In describes the particular attitude of a people, such as Abraham’s description of the people of Gerar: “there is no fear of God in this place” (Gen. 19:11). It also describes obedience and choosing to serve God, such as Job when Satan asked, “Does Job fear God for nothing?” (Job 1:9).
The world is an unpredictable place. The future many times comes with unexpected twists and turns. There are many factors which cause people to worry during their day to day lives. These factors include: economic concerns, health concerns, employment security, stresses within family and friends, and even the “unknown” itself. The sad truth is, however, that the vast majority of things which people worry about do not have any real or immediate effect upon our lives.
One of the most misunderstood Biblical concepts is the concept of faith. This powerful source of spiritual strength for all believers has been misconstrued by both claimed believers and non-believers alike. The primary area of misunderstanding is the notion of faith without proof or evidence (e.g. “the leap of faith”). God has never asked or expected man to believe in truths without evidence, nor has He asked man to follow His Word without very real assurances.
One universal truism about the nature of mankind is that men and women make very poor masters of our own lives. Without exception, we at some point fail and fall short of God’s expectation (Rom. 3:23). However, even knowing this, there is a strong temptation to be the master of our lives and to allow a “self”, which those in Christ have spiritually died to (Rom. 6), to once again be an influence over our decisions both great and small.
The world is not a perfect place, it is so ultimately because of the foolish choices of man. God created an idyllic world for man which man rejected, leading us into a world with many problems. Life can be cruel and unfair, yet it can also be rewarding and full of many blessings given by God. It is the uncertainty of the future or sometimes even the day that can cause us to stress about what will come.