The Fear of Man – Part 1

Proverbs 29:25 “The fear of man brings a snare, but he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted.”

Our small group Bible Study continues to meet on Friday evenings to examine the biblical topic of “Fear”, read and discuss the weekly lesson on breaking free from fear in our lives, and enjoy the trusted intimacy of loving brothers and sisters in Christ. We learned in a previous lesson that an appropriate “fear of the Lord” (the adoration, respect and reverence of God which produces a fear of disappointing our heavenly Father or letting Him down by our inappropriate thoughts, words, actions or inactions) can prevail over all others fears; how a proper understanding of God’s authority and our relationship with Him, as a child of God, puts everything else into prospective. Sometimes, the unchecked fear of man, the fear of death, and/or fears about the daily challenges of life can override our convictions and our passion for justice and truth. The lesson states that when we are threatened by man, whom we can see, hear, and feel, then we need to press forward, by faith, in confidence, believing in the God we can’t see because  faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Heb. 11:10). The “fear of man” brings a snare and a trap to our lives; trust in the Lord.

Psalm 14:1-5 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds; There is no one who does good. The Lord has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. Do all the workers of wickedness not know, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon the Lord? There they are in great dread, for God is with the righteous generation.

The contrast is great once you know what man is like apart from God. At our church’s monthly Men’s Breakfast this morning, our Pastor Rick said that the fear of man (with political and peer pressure, social acceptance, being in with the “in-crowd”, what people think of you and the like) is a leading roadblock and stumbling block to following Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord today. Most do not realize the fallen sin condition of mortal man before a just and holy Creator God. But it is short-sighted to not see where this life ends and prepare. The Lord Jesus warns us in Luke 12:4-5, “I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!” Our fear needs to be in the “right” place, because there are eternal consequences. Loving God provides a way ... the way, the trust and the life in Jesus Christ.

More to come on "The Fear of Man" tomorrow.

In Christ, Brian