Is it the fear of God or the knowledge of God that guides us?
Why can't it be both ? Jesus called God, father. At times when we are young and immature our fathers use fear to reach us even though they love us. We fear that we may be punished if we do something that is wrong according to our parents.
As we mature and gain wisdom we learn why our fathers were right and fear is no longer required.
Why do you limit God's methods for reaching his children to a choice between two factors, why cannot a loving God use many methods to call us home to him ?
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
One early Christian teacher said that there are three types of the saved; first are saved like the slaves - by fear of punishment, second are saved like the hirelings - out of hope for reward, and the third are saved like true children - by the love to God. All of those are saved, but it appears that some ways are better than another.