Proverbs 29:25-26

Proverbs 29:25-26 The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe. (26) Many seek the ruler's favor, But justice for man comes from the LORD.

How many times have we made decisions with one of the primary factors being what another person would think of our decision? Have we picked out clothes based on what everyone else was wearing? Have we drunk something or smoked something to make us accepted by the group? Have we raised our hands in praise to God when we knew that someone we respected was watching?

Yet the Lord tells us that to fear man, to worry about what other's may say, rather than what God says, is to bring a snare. We'll get caught up in trying to be something or someone for the wrong reason. But if we will trust in our God and seek to be accountable to Him alone, we are on safe ground! When we seek to please our Father, running away from sin and towards obedience and holiness, the snare will be far away.

Giving into temptation results in sin and sin results in death. This is the snare of the fear of man.

James 1:14-15 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. (15) Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

To trust in Jesus however is to be safe. He is our refuge and and strength. If we are concerned about how God sees our actions, then we will have right motivations. Obedience will follow naturally from those right motivations and although we can be wrong with the right motives, we are covered by the Lord who is our shield.

Psalms 144:2 My lovingkindness and my fortress, My high tower and my deliverer, My shield and the One in whom I take refuge, Who subdues my people under me.

We also often seek for the favor of those that we see as the holders of power that our cause might be heard. Many will march at rallies or demonstrate at a clinic, yet the Proverb (v26) tells us that truly our justice, that which is judged according to truth, is from God. God alone knows all the details of the situation and knows our's and other's motivations. Our justice comes from the Lord. We see this so clearly in the end of the life of Jesus. He stood before His accusers, silent. He did not fight his own battle, He completely submitted Himself to the will of the Father at ALL cost!

Matthew 10:28 "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Jesus was committed to trusting in the Father and His love for the Father allowed Him to be willing to go through whatever was placed before Him, knowing that He was pleasing God.

John 8:29 "And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him."

May we take our example from Jesus today!