First Day of the Rest of Your Year Today's Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: First Day of the Rest of Your Year--------------------------------------- Date: 1/1/2001 Keywords: "first" "revere" "reverence" Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. Passage: Proverbs 1:7-10* 7. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. 8. Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching. 9. They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck. 10. My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them. Question In verse 7 above, why is fear of God commended as the beginning of knowledge (rather than, say, the conclusion or result of it)?   Practical help New Year's resolutions typically envision some good result (more savings, more recreation, more time with family, etc.). Just execute an action plan, and the desired result comes about. It's the same for many folks, including porn strugglers, seeking more reverential living during the new year. Just implement a plan (study the Bible more, memorize more Scripture, join accountability groups, etc.), and reverential living results. For us sinners, such an approach is completely backward according to the passage above. Reverence for God ("fear of the LORD") is the beginning, not the end, of spiritual growth, the seed, not the harvest. Reverence for God, no matter how imperfectly practiced, is all that God wants from porn strugglers and other sinners. He enables everything else later, including victory over smut. It's what Jesus meant when he said to seek first God's kingdom and his righteousness, and everything else will be given to you as well (Matthew 6:33). So revere God as your first resolution this New Year. If you seek victory over porn, this will be added to you as well. eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 2001 by eXXit *Scriptures are from The Holy Bible: New International Version © Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved.