Psalm 111:10 says, ‘The fear of the Lord in the beginning of wisdom.’ Proverbs 1:7 and 9:10 say the identical thing. Three times God tells us that we begin to get wise when we begin to fear Him. If the first of the 10 Commandments is to love God with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength how can we love Him and fear Him at the same time?

I remember growing up that I loved my Dad. I knew that he loved me and wanted the best for me. But I was also afraid of him. I was self-willed and rebelled against authority if it prevented me from getting my own way. My Dad had little patience with my foolishness and brought me into line fast with a spanking. I learned to fear him if I was doing wrong. But I still loved him because I knew it was for my good. I transferred that fear to God.

Accountability for our sins should cause us all to fear His discipline in this life or His judgment hereafter. God says in Proverbs 8:13: ‘The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil: Pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth I hate.’ If those behaviors describe us we don’t hate them and we don’t fear the Lord. We are foolish and become known for it. Wise men remind us that fools have nothing going for them:

Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools talk because they have to say something. — Plato

The best way to convince a fool that he is wrong is to let him have his own way. –Josh Billings

When a fool lies to himself, he is not only dishonest, he is also gullible. –Joseph D. Cox

Think about how stupid the average person is, then realize half of them are stupider than that. –George Carlin

When the eagles are silent, the parrots begin to jabber. –Sir Winston Churchill

Tricks and treachery are the practice of fools, that don’t have brains enough to be honest. –Benjamin Franklin

Do you hate evil? Want to walk with wise men and bless others with your wisdom?

Join the Knights of Columbus!

For information on joining the Knights of Columbus / St. Bonaventure Council No. 12240, contact

Grand Knight Jude Hodges (954) 235-4524 [email protected].

or

Membership Director Joe Cox (954) 614-3209 [email protected]

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