Do You Have Fear? Is it the Good or Bad Type??
In the book of Deuteronomy, God tells us, “what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul” (10:12). Later on, it states that this can only occur after God’s circumcision of a person’s heart (30:6,8). This heart surgery enables a proper “fear of the Lord,” and begins the acquisition of divine knowledge (Prov 1:7), which comes by grace through faith (Eph 2:8-9). At the opposite side of the spectrum there is the fear of man, which the Bible speaks of as a snare (Prov 29:25). Fear of man is when a higher priority and focus is placed on people, versus God Himself. Another way to say this is: the one who someone fears is the one whom they shall worship. “People are our favorite idol. We exalt them and their perceived power above God. We worship them as ones who have God-like exposing gazes or God-like ability to ‘fill’ us with esteem, love, admiration, acceptance, respect, and other psychological desires” (pg. 45 – When People Are Big and God is Small, by Ed Welch). Finding your satisfaction in life based on other people, whoever they may be, will never satisfy you. This versus being filled by God (Eph 5:18), who can give a person all they will ever need and desire in life (Gal 5:22-23).
The fear of man drives us to things like pride, oversensitivity, defensiveness, avoidance of others, easy embarrassment, people pleasing and approval seeking. These behaviors all emphasize self, versus God and others. They stand in total opposition to the greatest God-given commandments, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” and “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:30-31). A person who struggles with the fear of man must start to focus on loving God and others above self. This will expel the fear of man. “The most radical treatment for the fear of man is the fear of the Lord” (WPABAGIS, pg. 19). When a person makes people too big and God too small (fear of man), the Bible says they can suffer from: losing the safety of the Lord (Prov 29:25; Heb 13:6), being unloving and lack self-control (2 Tim 1:7), unhealthy fear (1 Jn 4:18), worry pertaining to those who can kill the body rather the One who can condemn the soul (Matt 10:28), and a spirit of slavery (Rom 8:15). These just touch on some of the very tragic consequences of an inappropriate fear the Lord.
On the contrary, those who elevate God to the highest authority, and accept Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Rev 19:16), who possess the appropriate fear of Him, reap irreplaceable and priceless rewards. They are (to name several): divine wisdom (Job 28:28; Psa 111:10; Prov 1:7), strong confidence and children with a strong refuge (Prov 14:26), no unhealthy fears (1 Jn 4:18), hatred of evil (Prov 8:13; Psa 112:1; Prov 16:6), resistance from sin (Exod 20:20), mercy (Luke 1:50), ability to walk in all His ways, love Him, serve Him with all their heart and soul (Deut 10:12), a love of the brotherhood (1 Pet 2:17), having God as a friend, that makes His covenant known (Psa 25:14), walking in the comfort of the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:31), and a lack for nothing (Psa 34:9). The greatest reward of all, however, is eternal life (Prov 14:27; 19:23; 22:4).
If someone appropriately fears the Lord, God’s perfect love drives out human fear, as fear has to do with punishment (1 Jn 4:18). A true child of God’s punishment was placed upon Yeshua (Jesus) our Lord and Savior and brings a true believer peace and eternal salvation (Isa 53:5). Sadly, those who decide to ultimately fear men over God throughout their lifetime; they very well might fall short of God’s best unless they change whom they fear. A person can decide to make people so big in their life, and to the contrary, the Lord so tiny and ultimately non-present, that God might not be present with them after eternal judgment based on their decision. Your choice! If you choose to fear and please men versus fearing and pleasing God (which the Lord commands every believer to do: 2 Cor 5:9); this equates to a false belief (Jas 2:17,26). “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.” (Eccl 12:13-14)
Fear the Lord…not man! If you are already a true Christ-follower, live the life of freedom that you have been called by God to live without human fear by appropriately fearing the Lord. On the other hand, if you have not received Christ as Savior and Lord yet, repent and receive God’s free gift of salvation and fear the Lord before your last heartbeat! “The time has come,” he said. ‘The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!‘” (Mark 1:15).
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Prov 1:7)
Don’t be a fool! For more on the good news and how to obtain a godly fear of the Lord…please click the link below:
http://crustore.org/fourlawsflash.htm