Fearing God and its Benefits
Many people fear the wrong things, and they don't fear the One they should fear. Most people fear what other people might do to them. They fear what might happen if the economy takes a bad turn. Others fear getting a disease like cancer. Because of these and other fears, they live lives that are without peace, and they don't see the benefits God wants them to have. We should not fear anything else except God, Himself. The Egyptian midwives are a good example of having godly fear. (Exodus 1:17,21) Because the midwives feared God, they refused to obey the king's orders. They allowed the Hebrews boys to live along with the girls. Then, because of their fear of God, God gave the midwives families of their own. Here were two pagan ladies who feared God in the right way, even though many believers don't fear God as we should. The fear of God means that we respect God. We obey Him, knowing that if we don't obey God, He could punish us very severely. It is worshiping God b...