Loving vs Fearing God!

We are told multiple times in the Bible that we, as Christians, should fear God. Proverbs is HEAVY on that. 

Proverbs 3:7 “Be not wise in your owns eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil” 

Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” 

While mentioning how we should fear the Lord, the Bible also harps on loving Him with all of your heart. If God is so loving and our closest friend, then why are we fearing Him? These are two very contradicting statements and can be confusing if not understood properly. 

When a person imagines fear, more often than not, they instantly think of something they detest or something they should keep their distance from. When we are afraid of something, it is natural instinct to want to stay away from the thing we have fear towards. The God we are fearing is one that loves us so much! He loves us so much that He sent His son to die for our sins. When the Bible talks about fear, it is not the type of fear we automatically assume. So what fear are we talking about? 

To fear God is not to be afraid of Him, it is to be in awe of Him. Our God is omnipotent, meaning that He has the capability to be anywhere and everywhere at any given time. He truly does have the whole world in His hands. Acknowledging that and having the upmost respect for Him is what fearing the Lord is. When we fear Him, we abide by His law and make decisions that are pleasing in His sight. 

Our fear is what keeps us grounded in our faith.