Overcoming The Fear Of Man
Do you have any fears? We all do. From heights to snakes, to even more unusual fears like Arachibutyrophobia (the fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth) or Pogonophobia (the fear of beards), fears come in all shapes and sizes. But there’s one fear we often don’t talk about: the fear of man—the fear of other people’s opinions.
In the Gospel of John, we read about Pontius Pilate, a Roman governor who faced this very fear. Pilate knew what was right. He wanted to release Jesus, an innocent man, but instead, he allowed the crowd’s voices to dictate his decision. He was more concerned with keeping peace and maintaining his position than doing what was just.
The Fear of Man: A Common Struggle
Like Pilate, many of us are influenced by the voices around us. We have crowds in our lives too—friends, family, co-workers—whose opinions can sometimes sway us from doing what we know is right. At some point, each of us will face a choice: will we live to please the crowd or to please God?
I believe there’s a bit of Pilate in all of us. We often know what we should do but let the fear of others’ opinions control us.
Four Types of People Pleasers: Which One Are You?
- The Doormat: Always says yes to everything, often out of obligation rather than genuine desire, and ends up feeling bitter or resentful.
- The Chameleon: Changes and adapts to whoever is around, afraid of being truly known.
- The Bull: Refuses to change for anyone, driven by pride and the fear of losing a certain image or reputation.
- The Peacekeeper: Desperate to make everyone happy, avoids conflict, and ends up compromising their values.
Overcoming the Fear of Man
So, how do we break free from the fear of man and live a life that pleases God?
- Be Confident in Who God Made You to Be: Embrace your identity in Christ. Remember, you are God’s messenger, called to love and serve without needing validation from others. Your worth is found in God’s approval, not in people’s opinions.
- Be Clear About Where God Is Taking You: When you know God’s vision for your life, you have a clear direction that guides your decisions. It filters out what doesn’t align with His purpose for you, helping you say “no” to things that don’t serve His calling.
- Be Careful About Who You Listen To: Surround yourself with people who speak truth and encourage you to follow God’s will. Remember, not everyone will understand or support your decisions, but ultimately, you are accountable to God alone.
Conclusion: A Defining Moment
Today could be a defining moment for you—a day to decide to live to please God rather than people. Imagine the impact we could have if we all chose to fear God more than man! When people become too big, God becomes too small. Let’s make God big in our lives and live for His approval alone.
Oswald Chambers once said, “The remarkable thing about God is that when you fear God, you fear nothing else; whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else.”
Let’s choose today to fear God and find the freedom that comes from living for Him.
***This blog post was adapted from a sermon on from our teaching series on “The Book Of John” preached by Pastor Jason Kimbrow at Legacy Church. Click the “Watch Sermon” button below to view the sermon in its entirety.***