The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, it says – but for the apostle Paul, the beginning of wisdom is the celebration of grace.
Here’s a transcript:
I’m thinking about the fifth chapter of the letter to the Ephesians (Ephesians 5:15-20), in which the apostle advised his readers not to be foolish, but to be wise.
You would expect from the apostle Paul that there would be a long list of things not to do or, conversely, to do, in order to be wise or not to be foolish. Indeed, Paul began with one, and it is something of a theme for him and his letters. He said, do not get drunk with wine because that is debauchery. Instead, he advised, get filled with the spirit: sing hymns and spiritual songs and praise God.
The beginning of wisdom, we hear from Proverbs, is the fear of the LORD. Interestingly enough, the apostle did not quote that. Instead, he turned to a different kind of relationship with God, a different kind of activity towards God. He turned towards praise and celebration.
The beginning of wisdom is rejoicing in the gifts of God.
There are plenty of reasons for regrets, for repentance, even for sadness and sorrow. “The times are evil,” the apostle wrote. But wisdom does not focus there. Wisdom focuses on the gifts of God, the grace of God, the compassion of God, the presence of God, the praise of God.
So let us be wise and not foolish. Let us not replace genuine joy with that that comes from artificial means, whether that be mood altering substances or mood altering activity. Let us begin by appreciating the wonders of the world that God has made. Let us begin by celebrating the gifts and the grace of God.
That’s what I’m thinking. I’m curious to hear what you’re thinking. Leave me your thoughts in the comment section below. I’d love to hear from you.
