A life hack, as may well know, is some sort of insight you have gleaned that just makes life easier, less complicated. There’s more to a can of soft drink or a roll of gladwrap than meets the eye!

The book of Proverbs is a collection of life hacks; pithy pieces which to give the reader wisdom to live life well. I guess we all have some insight of what works in life and what doesn’t. The writer of Proverbs says that it all wisdom starts with God; that he is the foundation for a life well lived.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10

We need not be afraid of God like we are afraid of spiders, sharks or snakes, or crazy challenges faced by participants on ‘I’m a Celebrity, Get Me out of Here!’

Rather, we need to fear God in the sense that he is the almighty, all wise one, who is the source of all ultimate wisdom. He made us and he knows us. He deserves our respect, our honour, our gratitude, and our worship. It is he shows us principles for living, but more, how to live in loving relationship with God and others.

C.S. Lewis wonderfully captured what it means to rightly fear God. In the classic ‘Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’, and here is an insightful dialogue between sisters Lucy and Susan and Mrs Beaver:

“Aslan is a lion – the Lion, the great Lion.”

“Ooh, said Susan, I’d thought he was a man. Is he ---quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous meeting a lion.”

“That you will, dearie, and no mistake.” Said Mrs Beaver, “if there is anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or else just silly.”

“Then he isn’t safe?” said Lucy.

“Safe?” said Mrs Beaver. “Don’t you hear what Mrs Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he is good. He is the King I tell you.”

To fear God is the beginning of wisdom. God is awesome, powerful and rightly be honoured. We can do this because he is good. He loves us, and seeks his good for us all. And we are wise to remember this as we seek to navigate the challenges of life.