Fear

June 9, 2018

Proverbs 3:25-35

“Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked when it comes for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.  Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due when it is in your power to do it.  Do not say to your neighbors, “Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it” – when you have it with you.  Do not plan evil against your neighbors who dwells trustingly beside you.  Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm.  Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways, for the devious person is an abomination to the Lord, but the upright are in his confidence.  The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous.  Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he give favor.  The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace.”

I grew up with a mother who was very fearful of many things, and I learn the ways of fear like a bird dog.  In Proverbs 9:10, we learn of a fear that is very good.  “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.”  One might wonder what this kind of fear will produce, shall we explore in Proverbs 9:11-12,  “For by me your days will be multiplied, and your years will be added to your life.  If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it.”  Now the fear I learned was one that Scriptures warn against, and that is the fear of man.  “The fear of man is a snare, but whoever trust in the Lord is safe.” (Proverbs 29:25) 

“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due when it is in your power to do it.  Do not say to your neighbors, “Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it” – when you have it with you.”  Two point that is very clear, “to whom it is due” that would always include mom and dad when they are old and needed, and you put into a place where you never go to see them and even a neighbor who you can help.

“Do not plan evil against your neighbors who dwells trustingly beside you.  Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm.”  Most of us do not set out to hurt in any way our neighbor, but in today's world many do not even know their names, never speak has a dialog with them.  As a follower of Christ, this should not be the example you are I set.  One thing a young man has taught me is it is all about relationships, the most important is with Jesus and then your neighbors.  Many have asked who my neighbor is, it simple all who you come in contact with, I did not say it was easy, but Jesus can do it all for you.

“Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways, for the devious person is an abomination to the Lord, but the upright are in his confidence.”  As a follower of Christ, we need to be on guard, and it matters not if the person is on the right or the left in our political party, if they are a devious person they are an abomination to the Lord.  This year I observed two men who claimed to be Christ followers compete for the Congress of the United States, one let lies he knew to be false go out of his campaign.  One of these men I’ve known from a young man, the one the lies were told on, he addressed the lies but did not retaliate, those lies gave the win to another man, but my friend Matt McCall stands in the confidence of the Lord.  Let me be clear Matt is the winner.

“The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous.  Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he give favor.  The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice