When I was younger I thought that I knew everything. (Probably sounds familiar to many of you) I remember thinking that my parents didn’t understand life. My teachers in college didn’t know all the things I knew.  As I have grown older, I have been amazed at the things I do not know. I reflect on how hard-headed I was and wouldn’t listen to the people God placed in my life, and most of it was simple pride and foolishness.

Now that I am older, I call my parents routinely just to get a little more of their wisdom. I attended a Church of Christ Bible College and one day I thought I would straighten out one of the “Campbellite” professors and teach them some true and right Cumberland Presbyterian doctrine.  Well, this professor in the most humble manner he could, dressed me down with language and logic.  I was like Job before God in Job 40, “See, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth.” After that experience, as the semester continued, I learned.  Neither my knowledge nor his had changed, but my heart had changed. I was humbled. 

This is what it means to fear the Lord. We approach God with humility. We must be a little broken. If we are prideful about our knowledge, we are fools. When we are fools we have no desire for wisdom and instruction.