Living by the Word

He who despises the word will be destroyed,

but he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.

Proverbs 13:13

I live according to a Christian and Biblical worldview. That means that my life is governed solely by the principles of God's Word, and it's a good way to live.

There are a lot of different ideas in the world about how a person should live, how they should conduct themselves, how they should believe. Some have a live and let live mentality; others, a live and let's kill. I am neither. While I believe in each individual's right to make their own choices to determine the kind of life they are going to live, and I have no intention of infringing on those rights, I also intend to exercise my right--nay, my responsibility--to tell them what the Bible has to say about our life and our choices. If someone doesn't want to accept my worldview, it doesn't make me hate them or want to dispose of them; that's their choice.

But what we all need to understand is that each of us must ultimately face God with the decisions we have made and reap our eternal judgment--punishment or reward; it's our choice.

And this verse brings us upon the concept of fear again, this time the fear of God's commandments and God's words. Disobedience to the word of God meant destruction. At the time this Proverb was written, the penalty for being caught in transgression of God's word was death. If you steal, you die. You kill, you die. You commit adultery, you die. You lie, you die. Worship a false god, you die. Worship an idol of any kind, you die. Blaspheme God, you die. Work on the Sabbath, you die. Dishonor your parents, you die. And finally, covet something in your heart, you die. The commandment was something to be feared, honored and respected.

Today, the penalty is the same, only it is not measured out instantly or immediately. The punishment for our sin, if we remain in an unrepentant state, awaits us in eternity. But if we have feared the commandment of the Lord, we will be rewarded!