"Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline."
It takes discipline to continue to grow and be like Christ. We are to surrender our will when accepting Christ and that takes discipline and wisdom. It says the foundation of true knowledge, (not worldly knowledge) is fear of the Lord (Reverence). When we revere something we will take the time to learn about it and when we learn about it we will have the discipline to do or study it consistently. As we're walking in discipline look at what it says in verse 10, "My child, if sinners entice you turn your back on them!" We can't let the world show us what to do or how to live, we must turn to God and believe that He will show us exactly what we need.
Verse 19 goes on to say, "Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money; it robs them of life." Without discipline in all areas of our life we will struggle to feel like we need the world more than we need God. When we think we need something so bad it robs us of life. Discipline keeps us focused and focus keeps us seeking God and what He has given us to be successful here on earth.
As I read on in Proverbs chapter 1 verses 32-33 really made me think. "For simpletons turn away from me - to death. Fools are destroyed by their own complacency. But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm." Complacency is a feeling of quiet pleasure or security, often while unaware of some potential danger, defeat, or the like; self satisfaction with an existing situation. When we believe that there is no effort or discipline in our life after we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior we are fooling ourselves. Our complacency will destroy the foundation of truth that we know from the Lord. Discipline keeps us joyful in all situations that happen to us in life. We are not easily suede by our troubles because we are disciplined in our co-laboring with the Lord.
We don't say why God because God shows us why, we just say thank you. The why's aren't bad, but they are not needed when we have the discipline to study God's word and pray everyday for wisdom. We won't know it all but we will know what God wants us to and that will keep us full of joy and peace in whatever the world throws at us. God loves us and sent His one and only Son to show us how to love someone back and the Holy Spirit is in us to guide and comfort us while we live in this temporary home waiting with great excitement for the time Jesus returns or we take our last breath.
If we want true knowledge that God has freely given then we must quit being complacent about learning and growing in the Lord and have the discipline to say no to the worlds entices and yes to the Spirits direction. Amen