Have you ever heard someone say ‘You should fear God’ and thought, wait… what? Why would a loving God want me to be afraid of Him?”
For a lot of us, fear is something negative; something we try to avoid. We fear danger, pain, loss… which we view as negative experiences. So when the Bible tells us, ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,’ that sounds kinda confusing. Why would a loving God want us to fear Him?
The problem is we don’t have a proper understanding of what fear is. We think of fear as unhealthy and something that should be avoided. But there’s more than one kind of fear, and not all fear is bad.
In this post, we’re going to break it all down. What does the Bible actually mean when it says to fear the Lord? Why is it a good thing? And what does it look like in our lives today?
Let’s dive in.
Defining Fear
I want to start by defining what kind of “fear” we are talking about. Because each of us bring our own understanding of fear to the table. This can make it difficult for us to fully understand what it means to fear God.
The problem is in western culture we tend to only view fear as one thing, but in reality, there are multiple kinds of fear. And the Biblical definition of fearing God is different from how many of us think of fear.
Martin Luther made a distinction between the different kinds of fear that I think is helpful. He made a distinction between what he called a servile fear and a filial fear.
Servile fear is the fear that we often think of. It’s the fearing of looming danger or impending torture/pain. Think of how a slave would fear their master that beats them for each indiscretion.
Servile fear leads someone to obey a master, not out of love, but out of fear and control.
Filial fear is much different. Think of a child who has tremendous respect and love for his father. He sees how much bigger and wiser his father is, and he doesn’t want to disappoint him—not out of fear of punishment, but because he loves him.
In fact, when he does disobey he finds grace and restoration, not condemnation. Which further drives the respect he has for his father.
It’s filial fear that we are called to have for God. To fear God is to take the posture of that child. It means that we have awe and respect toward the majesty God. Not because we fear He’s going to torture us if we don’t. Rather, because we recognize who He is.
With that in mind, let’s look at what it means to fear God according to the Bible.
What The Bible Says About Fear Of The Lord
So what does the Bible actually say about fearing God? A lot, actually.
In Proverbs and Psalms, we’re told over and over that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 1:7, 9:10; Psalm 111:10). It’s where knowledge and understanding start—not with self-confidence, not with education, but with a right view of who God is.
On the flip side, Scripture also tells us that those who reject God don’t fear Him at all. Psalm 36 describes the wicked this way: “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” In other words, they live like God doesn’t matter.
Then in the New Testament, Jesus makes a pretty intense statement. He tells His disciples not to fear people who can harm their bodies, but to fear the One who holds eternal authority (Matthew 10:28).
That’s not about being terrified of God, it’s about recognizing that He’s holy, just, and ultimately in charge.
And it doesn’t stop there. Acts 9:31 says the early church walked in the fear of the Lord and as a result, it grew and was strengthened.
So, here’s the point: The Bible is clear, fearing God is a good thing. It’s not just encouraged; it’s essential. It marks the lives of those who trust Him, and it leads to a deeper, wiser, more grounded way of living.
Remember, we’re not talking about servile fear. This isn’t fear of a cruel master. This is filial fear, a deep respect, a sense of awe, a love that says, “God, I don’t want to go my own way—I want to honor You.”
Why We Should Fear God
We’ve seen that God’s word talks a lot about the fear of the Lord. And that it leads to a blessed life. Let’s look at why we should fear God.
1. The Beginning Of Knowledge And Wisdom
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7
Many of the passages about fearing God are found in the book of Proverbs. This book centers around wise things that we should do and unwise things to avoid. This book starts off in the first few verses that we should fear God (Proverbs 1:7). The result if we do? A sound mind and knowledge.
Proverbs tells us that the beginning of knowledge and the beginning of wisdom is found in the fear of the Lord.
2. It Shows Our Awe Of Him
Too often it becomes commonplace that the creator of the universe cares for us. He’s walked in our shoes, experienced our life, and died on the cross for us. We often take that for granted.
To fear God is to show respect. It’s to take a step back and understand how big and powerful he is. Like a young child that looks at his father in awe of how powerful he is. We look at our heavenly father in awe because of how big he is and yet how much he cares.
3. Leads To Life
The Bible calls the fear of the Lord the fountain of life and claims that it leads us to an abundant life (Proverbs 14:27 and Proverbs 19:23).
We often think the good life is found when we can do whatever we want. When we gain more for ourselves. But that kind of life has robbed many. The Bible teaches us a different way to live, a way that leads to the life we are actually after. And it starts with fearing God.
4. It’s Worship
To worship is to give and show worth to something. A proper fear of the Lord is worship. It means that we are showing God that he is worthy. Worship expresses our gratitude for God. It places him in the proper place in our lives.
Psalm 31:19 says those who fear God take refuge in him. God is pictured as a father taking care of his children. He’s protecting them from what can harm them.
Again, we cannot forget that Godly fear is filial fear. As a child looks on in respect towards their father, the father protects his children. It is the same with our father in heaven.
What Does It Mean To Fear God In Our Lives Today?
So what does it actually look like to fear God in our everyday lives?
We’re not just talking about a feeling. Fearing God is a posture—it’s about how we live, how we think, how we respond to Him. It’s recognizing who He is and letting that shape everything else.
Let me give you a few ways that plays out:
- To fear God is to approach Him with awe and reverence. (Hebrews 12:28–29)
We don’t treat God casually. We recognize His holiness and respond with worship, gratitude, and humility.
- To fear God is to represent Him well. (2 Corinthians 5:20)
When we fear God, we take seriously the role we’ve been given—as ambassadors of His kingdom. We live with integrity, because we represent Someone greater than ourselves.
- To fear God is to trust His wisdom over our own. (1 Peter 1:24–25)
Even when we don’t understand everything, we follow His ways because we believe He knows what’s best.
- To fear God is to submit to His authority.
Not just in theory, but in how we make decisions, handle relationships, spend money, and treat people.
- To fear God is to take sin seriously. (Romans 7:13)
We don’t excuse it or downplay it. We acknowledge the damage it causes and the grace we need to overcome it.
- To fear God is to find our identity in Him.
Not in what we’ve accomplished, what others think, or how we feel, but in who He says we are.
That’s what a healthy fear of God looks like. It’s not fear of punishment—it’s a response of love, reverence, and surrender.
Like Deuteronomy 10:12-13 says: “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul…”
When we live with that kind of fear we’re not crushed under God’s authority. We actually find freedom and joy inside His boundaries. It’s the kind of fear that draws us closer, not pushes us away.
Author William D. Eisenhower puts it like this: “God poses an ominous threat to my ego, but not to me. He rescues me from my delusions so that He may reveal the truth that sets me free… Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, but the perfect love from the Lord is its completion.”
So, what does it mean to fear God? It means we love Him, trust Him, submit to Him—even when we don’t fully understand. It means we place Him above everything and everyone else. And when we do, that’s where wisdom begins.
