Depart From Evil

“A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident” (Proverbs 14:16).
As boys, we are taught from an early age that we should be fearless. Maxims from our youth, such as “Big boys don’t cry’ and “Be a man,” have given us a false expectation of how we are to face the world. Many of the “truths’ we were indoctrinated with as children are not grounded in reality. For example, boys are taught to fear nothing, but there are some things we should have a healthy respect for: sin, evil, and a Holy God. A fear of sin and evil is wise because it serves as a protective mechanism to keep us far away from wickedness. Our fear helps us to weigh the consequences of falling into sin when temptation comes our way. A foolish man is confident and fears nothing. This kind of man is easily led astray because he places himself in no-win situations. He fails to recognize dangers and warning signs that a wise man would pick up on. “A prudent man forseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished” (Proverbs 22:3). Godly men, I realize that the Bible says that we are to fear no evil (Psalms 23:4) and fear not what flesh can do to us (Psalms 56:4). However, the fear of the Lord and departing from evil go hand in hand (Proverbs 3:7). The fear of sin and evil is not a negative fear rooted in a lack of faith in God’s abilities, but a healthy fear ingrained in a love for God and a desire to live holy.