Goads are sharp sticks used for driving oxen. In my judgment, reading most novels is a waste of time. The philosophies and ideas of men become a weariness to the flesh. God's Word, by way of contrast, prepares the heart for the world to come. We are to live our lives with a sense of reverence for God.
Fear carries with it an element of trust.
Fear also carries with it a desire to keep God's commandments. If we have reverence for God, and if we fear God, we will set out to follow Him and to genuinely seek to live by His Word. People may seem to get away with sin, but the Bible assures us that sins will eventually be exposed and judged righteously. God is a holy God, and He will bring every work into judgment. This can be a time of joy and approval, or it can be a time of severe judgment.