How does fearing God add length to a person’s life (Proverbs 10:27)?

Answer

Proverbs 10:27 states, “The fear of the LORD adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.” We know that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: And the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”, (Proverbs 9:10), but how does that relate to a longer life?

First, it should be noted that, like all proverbs, Proverbs 10:27 is a general principle and not a promise. In other words, there are some people who fear the Lord and die young, and there are some people who have no fear of God and live long lives. However, the proverb simply observes that those who fear God generally live longer than those who do not.

There are two aspects involved in the explanation of this life principle. The first half of the proverb says that those who fear the Lord live longer lives. What is the best explanation for this statement? Those who live in fear of the Lord—those who have godly wisdom—will avoid sinful, reckless actions that can shorten one’s life. They will also practice wholesome, beneficial actions that are conducive to longer life.

The fear of God may add length to life by causing one to avoid violent activities, to refrain from unhealthy eating, to abstain from illicit sex, and to say no to harmful drugs and other addictive things. Having the fear of God also promotes a greater level of self-control and personal responsibility, resulting in a lifestyle of working hard to provide for daily needs and regular sleep to maintain long-term health. Relationally, a person who fears God will regularly spend time in prayer, develop godly relationships, and seek to live in harmony with family members and friends, resulting in a lower stress level and the lifestyle benefits that come with that.

The second half of the proverb coCompletes the antithetical parallelism of the verse: the years of the wicked will be shortened. Therefore, the godly person (who fears the Lord) is likely to live longer, while conversely, the wicked (who do not fear the Lord) are likely to live a shorter life. Why? The ungodly individual is more prone to persist in unhealthy behaviors such as overeating, engaging in sexual promiscuity, developing addictions to alcohol or drugs, lacking exercise and hard work, participating in conflicts, or experiencing stressful relationship issues. Due to the wicked person’s lack of wisdom, they are more inclined to repeat errors that result in adverse outcomes leading to an earlier demise. A reckless lifestyle will heighten the likelihood of a shorter lifespan.

While Christians often disregard the link between their faith and personal health, this proverb underscores this crucial connection. We are called to honor God with our bodies “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:20). This encompasses aspects ranging from sexual purity to our dietary habits, physical activity, and sleep patterns. Those Christians who fear God and apply His wisdom to these areas of life are more likely to experience a prolonged life compared to those who do not.