Fear of Man (Again!)
August 17, 2010
This past Sunday, we spent some time thinking about the fear of man (again!). According to the Apostle Paul, it was one of the reasons that the false teachers in Galatia were motivated to preach their message. They wanted “to make a good showing in the flesh…and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ,” as Paul mentions in Galatians 6:12. What is clear is that the Judiazers wanted others to think well of them in order to avoid discomfort.
On Sunday I pointed out that fear of man often seeks control, personal gain, and comfort. Fear of man is quite simple, it is allowing our fear or awe of others to govern our decisions and actions. Fear of man can happen anywhere. It can happen in our workplaces, our small groups, our accountability relationships, our homes, in conversations with our parents, or with our friends at school. We’re apt to think that fear of man is one of the more harmless sins, but in reality it is pretty harmful both to ourselves and to others, for it is nothing short of attempting to control others and their behavior toward us.
Fear of man shows that we ultimately want to sit on the heavenly throne. It reveals that we don’t trust God’s providence. We don’t like that God has placed us in a particular situation, circumstance, or around particular people. We’re uncomfortable by people or circumstances, so we want to fix things by manipulating the people around us. We want protection or pleasure. The truth is what we really need is to trust in God’s protection and to take pleasure in him.
This coming Sunday, we’ll begin studying the book of Joshua, and I’m struck by how appropriate the Lord’s words to Joshua are concerning the fear of man. The Lord instructs Joshua to lead Israel into the land, but more than that, he tells him to be strong and courageous (not to fear those in the land!). Why should Joshua be strong and courageous? Because the Lord is with him! Dear Christian, take comfort from God’s presence with you today as you battle fear of man, wherever you are. Remember the Lord is with you he will never leave you or forsake you (Joshua 1:5). God is your protection and therefore you should take pleasure and delight in him. Fear him!
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