FEMI AWODELE'S HOUSE CALL

Femi AwodeleWednesday, December 17, 2014
christiancouples.org
USA

ANNOUNCE THIS ARTICLE
TO YOUR FRIENDS

BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES AND LIFE APPLICATION XLX:
FEAR OF MAN VS FEAR OF GOD


advertisement

ear induces our Mind and Will to decide or act (or not) on what we know to be True. There are two types of fear, one based on "reverence" and the other based on "phobic - intimidation". When the Bible talks about the "fear" of God being the beginning of wisdom, that is reverential fear - deciding and acting based on trust, integrity and confidence in the person giving the instruction. When Israel feared and trembled when Goliath taunted them for days (perhaps weeks) to come and fight, that fear was based on intimidation.

Fear of Man - Case Study of Saul the first King of Israel

Saul was a well built guy, today he will be that high school jock or the quarterback of the best NFL team with a model as wife. He was ordained by God to be king, so he was preferred. Yet with all what God has done for him, Saul had a strange desire to be liked by his people.

Saul would often do things that make him popular among his people than with God (he feared the people more than God). On one occasion God told him to wipe out a city, to take nothing captive, yet he did exactly opposite, when confronted he said I kept some animals because "I was afraid of the people". On another occasion, after prophet Samuel told him the Spirit of God has left him, due to repeated lack of obedience, he still was into looking good in front of the people that repentance never crossed his mind, he only wanted Samuel to go out and wave with him in front of the people, so he can still get their political support.

Saul like many of us today are motivated by the fear of men, fear of loosing our popularity, fear of being alone, fear of being called names, fear of poverty, etc. Fear induced by men is not limited to class, ethnicity, race, gender or whatever - in our generation rulers are afraid of low polls, poor people are afraid of loosing their benefits, rich people are afraid of loosing their wealth, popular people are afraid of being sidelined, etc., so they compromise God's word to have what they think they need.

Fear of God - Case Study of Nehemiah, Governor of Judah

Nehemiah was second or third generation of Jews in Babylon. Many had returned home, while some stayed back in Babylon because they had favor with God with having great positions of authority. Nehemiah was one of those blessed with God's favor, he had one of the most important job in Babylon - he was the kings "food taster", and his body language is as important as him tasting the food before the king ate.

Nehemiah was told about the dilapidated state of Jerusalem and he requested the king to go and fix it. King Artaxerxes appointed Nehemiah as the Governor of the region (Judah), to enable him carry out his assignment of rebuilding the wall. Unfortunately for Nehemiah, the region was so corrupt that his coming as governor was seen as a threat to those in power (and wanted status quo).

Nehemiah had to change a lot of crap, unauthorized tax-levy and other corruption induced processes. He won the accolade of the people but those who depended on the corrupt process still wanted his head. They petitioned King Artaxerxes in Babylon and had Nehemiah recalled (for a brief time) back to Babylon. In one of his speeches to the people, Nehemiah told them, I have not ruled you with the fear of men, but totally based on the fear of God (see Nehemiah 5).

Decisions and Action prompted by the Fear of God

The perfect will of God is already available to us in His inspired written word and we also have the Holy Spirit within us to guide and lead, so the Ways of God are known to us, however many of us are deciding other solutions in our mind and acting willfully on what we know is against God's will (laws and principles) based on His word.

When we have the fear of men for whatever reason, such as Saul the king or Samson the Nazarite did, we'll end up continuously grieving the Holy Spirit in us (or lose Him completely as both Saul and Samson did). When our decisions and actions are prompted by temporary gain or pleasure - we might have earthly gains and pleasure but we'll lose in eternity, when we can actually have both (our lives glorifying God on earth and living with Him in eternity).

Joseph ran from Mrs. Potiphar, when he could have had sex with her and no one would know (at least for a while) - he had the fear of God and ran paying a price temporarily, but earning God's trust enough to be elevated as PM of Egypt. When King Artaxerxes investigated the claim against Nehemiah and discovered it was false, Nehemiah gained more of the king's trust and was re-instated as Governor of Judah (blessed not only on earth but with God).

Having the fear of God (and not of men) might bring you temporary pain like a lot of people in the Bible but God always reward those who put their trust in Him, which is why Solomon said "the Fear of God is the beginning of wisdom". Having the fear of men (humans) would always bring temporary gains - an appointed or elected position, a re-election, a contract, sexual pleasures, wealth, etc. unfortunately however history and time records that such gains never last, and such a human could lose twice (not only that temporary gain but eternity away from Christ) if unrepentant.

Whose fear (God or Men) motivates your decision or prompts you to act?

advertisement
IMAGES IN THE NEWS