First Things First: Part 2

Not every new direction is wise just because it feels fresh. A person can make plans, set goals, change routines, and still move in a direction that is not rooted in God. Scripture tells us where wisdom begins: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom" in PROVERBS 9:10 (ESV).

The fear of the Lord is not panic before a cruel master. It is reverence before the holy God. It means His Word weighs more than our impulses. His glory matters more than our image. His approval matters more than applause. His holiness is not treated lightly. A life without reverence may look confident for a while, but it is not wise.

January can easily become a month of self-rule dressed up as improvement. We can ask, "What do I want to become?" without first asking, "What honours the Lord?" We can chase discipline while ignoring surrender. We can want a better life while resisting a more obedient heart. But wisdom begins when God is God to us, not merely a helper added to our own plans.

JOB 28:28 (ESV) says, "Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding." Wisdom is never separated from repentance. If the Lord shows us a path that is wrong, wisdom turns away. If His Word corrects us, wisdom listens. If He exposes pride, wisdom bows.

First things first: do not build the year on cleverness, emotion, or self-confidence. Begin with reverence. Ask the Lord to make your heart teachable, your conscience tender, and your steps obedient. The wise life starts with God in His rightful place.

This kind of wisdom reaches decisions that seem ordinary. It shapes what we say yes to, what we refuse, what we watch, who we listen to, how we spend time, and how quickly we repent when the Lord corrects us. The fear of the Lord brings the whole life under holy seriousness. It teaches us not to treat sin lightly, not to treat Scripture casually, and not to treat the Lord as though He exists to bless whatever direction we have already chosen.