by Isaac Guess The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe. Proverbs 29:25
It is not necessary to prove the truth of this passage. Whether we have experienced rejection and unfaithfulness by those we trusted most or we bear the scars of futilely aiming to measure up, we know that the fear of man brings a snare. Yet this knowledge by itself does not provide the help we need. We still daily face the temptation to let man influence our thinking in ungodly ways. The help in this passage is found in understanding what Solomon conveys about trusting God. Placing trust in God cannot be traced to a “once for all” moment of decision. While conversion is the placing of one’s trust in God, the truth is that conversion (turning from self to God) must also be a daily exercise of the heart and will. The phrase “whoso putteth” is an active verb; it indicates that this is a continuous activity. True Christianity is best understood not only as the mere affirmation of a standard of truth, but also as a commitment to a way of life, a relationship with the God of heaven. If you and I will escape the fear of man today, it will be because we place our trust in God today. If we will escape fear tomorrow, it will be because we place our trust in God tomorrow. Trusting God means that in our minds, we seek to elevate God to the place where He actually is. When God is seen in His glory and power, man pales in comparison. There simply is no substitute for committing ourselves to daily worship.
Older
Top
