In Isaiah 2:22, we are encouraged to have no fear of other people, but fear the Lord. And many times that is more difficult than it sounds. Have you ever found yourself KNOWING the right thing to do, but scared to actually DO it?
In Edward T. Welch’s book When People are Big and God is Small, Dr. Welch discusses why people are more afraid of people, who can’t truly hurt you, than they are of God, who can destroy you completely. We are afraid that people will see the “real” us and reject or physically hurt us. And the world WANTS us to fear people.
If we fear others more than God we’ll:
- …worry more about what our friends think of us and compromise our Christian walk.
- …become over-committed and become “people-pleasers”.
- …allow money, material wealth, and self-abundance to rule our decisions.
- …be jeleous of others, and what they have…and what we DON’T have.
- …have lower and lower self-esteem.
- …have less and less “real” contact with others (IE. Facebook, Twitter, & MySpace).
Sound familiar? So what’s the “answer”?
The answer is: Fear God.
Every one of these examples is the “fear of man,” and they share one thing in common, that People are BIG. Isaish 33:6 tells us, that we MUST fear God and that the key to life is found there. When People are BIG, God is SMALL. People can grow so larger that they become idols to us, they become our God. And because there is no room for both God and people, we chose the one that poses the most immediate threat, people.
But there is hope. We can overcome our fear of man and fear God, in a healthy, life-giving way. But it will take time and work. It may even take extreme measures like seek a Christian counselor, or sacrificing some harmful relationships.
“Fear the Lord, you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing…Come my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.” - Psalm 34:9, 11
Ok, I admit to 4 of those…I really need to get back in step in my walk with God. Just trying to figure out the direction I am taking. Thanks for the post!
@Mel
You are amazing. You need to believe in yourself in the same way that God and I believe in you. I would never have been able to do what you have done. YOU are one of my heroes! Seriously, get back in to God’s life He has for you, and keep on keeping on. Believe in yourself and don’t look back – focus on God. Remember, you da’ WO-man!
@Mel … I agree with JD. WOW! I don’t know if I could have done what you did… God has something special planned for you i just know it. keep on keepin’ on girl. I know this sounds weird or motherly but I am proud of you and your accomplishments! Cheers!