Classic KJV - Proverbs 15:16

This text does not say that little is better than much. It does not suggest poverty is better than wealth. Clearly, “a little” is better than “nothing.” We are physical beings, needing at least “a little” in order to live. The author understands this. He does not imply that we’re pure spirits, surviving merely on “fear of the LORD.” Contrary to some pagan philosophies, like Buddhism, material assets are not to be shunned as evil. God likes material things; He made them.

The “fear of the LORD” means taking God seriously. Since the LORD is the “King of Kings and Lord of Lords,” then all human authority is under his authority. So, incidentally, we should respect and obey human government in all its forms, whenever it does not directly contradict God’s word. Yet, just as our respect for government should be “contained” by our respect for God, so should our respect for the marketplace be “contained.” So maybe we can begin understanding fear of the LORD by seeing what happens in its absence.

Is Ignorance Bliss or Turmoil?

Capitalism, as espoused by Adam Smith (The Wealth of Nations), does not consider intangibles like fear of the LORD. Smith and classical capitalist economics investigate natural wealth accumulation, then perhaps naively support unlimited wealth maximization. Many conservative economists believe the illusion that “more is always better”—or even “more is the only better.” So a consumption-driven society deliberately boosts its “standard of living,” by creating artificial needs, unhealthy obsessions, and then driving its financial metrics and economic indicators by feeding the disease. Blind consumption tries to bury the human need for security, love, and meaning, trying to suppress the spiritual, but this can only leave us consuming in tears. Wealth without wisdom is turmoil.

Translation: Turmoil

The Hebrew word for “turmoil” here, מהומה (mehȗ•māh, pronounced “me-hoo-mah”), is used twelve times in Scripture, and it is also translated as: “confusion, trouble, or panic.” The basic meaning of the root seems to be “a severe disturbance,” like a natural disaster. Most interesting: in ten of the twelve uses, this term depicts the intentions of the LORD toward those whom he disciplines or destroys. It’s used first in Deuteronomy 7:23, when the LORD says that he will send great “confusion” against the enemies of God’s people, until they are ruined.

Ignoring the Warning

What if I just don’t believe all this? What if I’d rather concentrate on increasing my asset base, instead of taking my chances with this invisible, inaudible God? What if profit maximization is my primary purpose, my meaning in life? Many people seem to get along just fine without any thought of God. The text warns that those who ignore the LORD, focussing only on ever more wealth, end up “disturbed” by the LORD Himself. He uses different sorts of unavoidable turmoil to get their attention.

A Healthy Fear

The fear of the LORD is almost the opposite of normal anxiety or dread. It’s really “an awesome respect for the LORD.” If a tiger were loose in the room, we would shrink into unbearable stress and terror. The fear of the LORD is not like this. If we’re standing on a lofty mountain or bridge, looking out over a river at sunset, we’re awed and quieted by the grandeur before us, but respectful of the drop. This awe and respect is very, very good for us. In this way, fear of the LORD brings life, confidence, and good sense. It guides us and limits our pursuit of wealth. While other fears are painful, the fear of the LORD is happy! It helps us make wise choices. We need to learn it. Yet if God is good, why should we learn to fear Him? Isn’t fear an emotion to be avoided? Why does Solomon insist that the fear of the LORD is good?

The very next text, Proverbs 15:17, is parallel in structure and sheds light on this puzzle. “Better is a dish of vegetables where love is, than a fattened ox and hatred with it.” It equates fear of the LORD with the presence of “love.” Read more about it here: How much should you spend on food?

To understand the fear of the Lord, we need to investigate its use in the Scriptures:

• The beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 9:10).
• The instruction for wisdom (Proverbs 15:33).
• Wisdom (Job 28:28).
• Clean, unchanging (Psalm 19:9).
• The beginning of knowledge (Proverbs 1:7).
• The hatred of evil (Proverbs 8:13).
• A fountain of life (Proverbs 14:27).
• The Messiah’s delight (Isaiah 11:3).
• Optional (Proverbs 1:29).
• Prolongs life (Proverbs 10:27).
• Good for us and our children (Jeremiah 32:38-41)
• Brings strong confidence (Proverbs 14:26).
• Leads to life (Proverbs 19:23).
• Produces a triple reward (Proverbs 22:4).

A Love-Based Fear

Can fear and love co-exist? That seems almost impossible. It’s human nature to be suspicious and fearful of what we don’t understand—especially if it may be more powerful than us. We read in the New Testament, 1 John 4:16-19, that “God is love... and there is no fear in love... the one who fears is not perfected in love.” It seems that if we fear the LORD, we need to be afraid of nothing else. Fearing the LORD is treated as terror and tension, but with their antitheses, peace, and serenity. This is possible only if God is good and not “out to get us.” In one sense, God wants us not to fear Him, yet in another, He surely wants us to fear sin, to fear offending Him, to respect the “mountain top.” God hates and punishes pride and rebellion.

This fear is helpful and highly beneficial. We read in Jeremiah 32:40-41 that God puts the fear of Him into His children’s hearts, so that “they will not turn from Me.” God then says, “I will rejoice in doing them good.” Imagine! It is very, very good to fear someone who rejoices in blessing us! To understand better the fear of the LORD, study this verse in its context: Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you that you may not sin,” Exodus 20:20. Note the word fear is used in the same sentence yet in two different ways.

Our Maker, Saviour, and Friend

The LORD is the “Prince of peace,” (Isaiah 9:6).

He never wants his followers to be in a state of terror.  For example, when Jesus walked on water during a night storm toward the disciples’ boat, they were terrified thinking a ghost - a supernatual being was approaching them while they had no means of escape. Jesus did not sadistically prolong their panic. He said, “Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid,” (Mark 6:50).

Six times in the gospels Jesus tells his followers to  “take courage.”