Kept safe

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

KEPT SAFE

Prov 29:25

25 Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.

NIV

When we are so concerned about what man thinks of us, that we live to please men rather than God, it will certainly be our downfall. It is a trap to think we need the approval of others in order to belong to their group. Why should we belong to their little band, their clique, in the first place? Even within Christendom we can see these little groups, these clusters of tightly knit people who only socialize with each other. They might invite us in, but we have to abide by the rules of the group. We remember years back at one church we were members of where there was such a group. It had the proverbial ring leader, the wife of a dear man, but if we wanted to be in the group we were expected to pay her homage so to speak, by doing what she wanted when and where she wanted to get the group together. Conversation was also determined as to what was acceptable and what was not. Everything was good as long as we behaved by her rules. This is fear of man at its height. Compromising who we are to be liked and to belong is not the way to live.

Gal 1:10

Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

NIV

We cannot live to please others and please God at the same time, Now that does not mean we should go out of our way to offend others either. We do need to be friends to those lost in sin so to bring them the good news. We do need to associate with and live in a gentle manner, representing Christ, as we are his ambassadors to a lost world. Yet keeping our mouth shut about Jesus, so not to offend them, is having fear of them rather than trusting God.

Heb 13:6

6 So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"  

NIV

Of course the writer of Hebrews is quoting from a Psalm David wrote. The truth is man cannot do anything to us. True man can take the life of this body, but he cannot destroy our spirit, our being, the real us, who will live on forever in the presence of our Lord. Our trust is in God, not in the world, the things of the world or the people of the world. We do not live to please them, yet we make every effort to live in peace with them, as we are his image and voice to them, working in partnership with the Spirit. So we live and work among those who need to know Jesus. But we do not live in accordance with their ways in order to be liked by them. We must maintain our life in Christ, trusting for every aspect of our lives. This is the way to life everlasting, being kept safe.