The fear of man can indeed become a dangerous snare, as the Bible warns in Proverbs 29:25. This verse states, “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.” To properly understand this verse, we must first examine what it means to “fear man” versus fearing God.
Defining the Fear of Man
The fear of man at its core is allowing other people’s opinions of us dictate our actions. It is caring too much about pleasing people rather than obeying and honoring God. We see the fear of man manifest itself in several ways:
- Changing or hiding our words/beliefs to avoid rejection or persecution from others
- Obsessing over our reputation and what others think of us
- Being controlled by peer pressure rather than inner convictions
- Being paralyzed by the fear of embarrassment or ridicule
Many times, the fear of man prevents us from taking a stand for righteousness. We know in our hearts what God would have us do, but we shrink back, afraid of how people may react. This sad reality is why the Bible repeatedly warns against relying on man’s approval versus God’s.
How the Fear of Man Ensnares Us
The fear of man is compared to a dangerous snare for several key reasons:
- It imprisons us in people’s opinions – When we live for others’ approval, we become ensnared by their whims and expectations. Their rejection hurts more than it should. Their criticism controls us. We lose the freedom to be who God made us to be.
- It squeezes out faith in God’s promises – When obsessed with man’s opinions, we start to doubt God’s words about who we are and what He can do through us. We elevate man’s view above God’s truth.
- It leads us into sin – The approval of men becomes so important, we’re willing to sin to obtain it. We betray our convictions, compromise godly standards, and ignore the Holy Spirit’s promptings.
- It produces crippling fear – Anxiety rises when we think others are judging us. Worry, depression, anger, and bitterness can take root when living for the crowd’s fickle opinions.
- It prevents us from fulfilling God’s purposes – Fearing man causes us to shrink back from what God is calling us to do. We bury talents He gave us. We avoid speaking truth when we should. We neglect opportunities to serve Him.
In summary, the sinful fear of man controls our behavior, emotions, and destinies in ways that dishonor God and stunt our growth. It tricks us into living for the wrong audience and seeking the wrong reward – men’s admiration rather than God’s “well done.”
Contrasting the Fear of God
If the fear of man is a dangerous snare, then the alternative presented in Proverbs 29:25 is to fear God instead. But what exactly does it mean to fear God, and how does this set us free?
The “fear of God” in the Bible isn’t about being terrified of His wrath. Rather, it means reverence – understanding the power, perfection, and authority of the One who created us. When we properly revere God, several life-changing realities result:
- We care most about living holy lives that please God, not impressing man.
- We find freedom in obeying God rather than following societal norms or peer pressure.
- We draw courage knowing God is for us, so we need not obsess over others (Romans 8:31).
- We find our identity and security in Christ, not other’s opinions.
- We align our thoughts and actions with God’s truth rather than man’s fickle feelings.
The fear of God liberates us from the control and opinions of others. His thoughts become bigger than people’s thoughts. His approval outweighs man’s. We develop moral courage and stop dancing to the tune of crowd-pleasing.
Examples of the Sinful Fear of Man in the Bible
Throughout Scripture, we see example after example of the sinful fear of man leading people into trouble. Let’s examine a few key stories:
Adam and Eve
After God directly commanded Adam and Eve not to eat the forbidden fruit, Eve fell into the fear of man snare by valuing the Serpent’s word over God’s. She was tricked into disobeying her Creator in order to “be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5). Adam likewise followed Eve’s sinful example, fearing her disapproval over God’s. Their story reminds us that fearing God rather than man is a matter of life and death.
Abraham
Abraham twice lied about his wife Sarah being his sister for fear that the Egyptians and King Abimelech would kill him to take her (Genesis 12:11-13, 20:1-2). Though God kept protecting Abraham, his deception was rebuked by pagan kings! This reveals the irony that fearing man often backfires, causing more harm than good. If Abraham had feared God first, he could have avoided this embarrassment.
Aaron and the Golden Calf
While Moses met with God on Mt. Sinai, the Israelites pressured Aaron to make idols to worship, since they thought Moses had abandoned them. Despite knowing this was wrong, Aaron catered to their demands, fearing their disapproval over obeying God (Exodus 32:1-6). Aaron’s example reminds us that crowd-pleasing often requires sinning against our Creator.
Peter Denies Jesus
Peter presumed he would never deny Christ, even unto death. Yet when bystanders at Jesus’ trial recognized Peter and accused him of being a disciple, three times Peter denied even knowing Christ, afraid these people would punish him too (Matthew 26:69-75). Peter’s betrayal reveals how quickly the fear of man can override our best intentions to serve God courageously.
Agrippa Almost Believes Paul
In Acts 26, the apostle Paul shares the gospel with King Agrippa, who confesses he is almost persuaded to become a Christian. Yet Agrippa ultimately rejects Christ, saying to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” (Acts 26:28). Though drawn to the gospel, Agrippa feared the persecution of other leaders if he converted to Christ. His example shows that without the fear of God, we struggle receiving Christ as Lord.
As these examples demonstrate, giving other people’s opinions more weight than God’s truth consistently backfires. We avoid this trap by revering our Creator over all.
How to Cultivate the Fear of God
Living with a healthy fear of God doesn’t just happen automatically. We cultivate this mindset by:
- Reading Scripture – God’s word exposes His awesome power, demands for holiness, and promises to protect those who obey Him. It reminds us Whose approval we should prize the most.
- Praying for God’s help – Admitting our struggle with the fear of man and asking the Holy Spirit to nurture reverence for God instead.
- Purifying motivations – Examining why we do good deeds – is it for God’s glory or man’s? We should serve Him alone.
- Trusting God’s sovereignty – Remembering all things work for good for those who know and follow Christ (Romans 8:28). With God in control, we need not fear men.
- Obeying promptly – When we sense God prompting us to act, we must not delay but follow in faith. Obedience strengthens our awe of God.
As we grow in revering our Creator, we gain freedom from the control and opinions of others. Their words lose power to dictate our choices. We find joy and purpose in living for an audience of One – our great God.
Bible Verses about the Fear of Man
Along with Proverbs 29:25, the Bible contains many other verses that warn against the fear of man and instruct us to fear God instead. A few key passages include:
Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint; heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony. My soul is in deep anguish. How long, Lord, how long? Turn, Lord, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love (Psalm 6:1-4).
The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? (Psalm 118:6)
Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God (Psalm 146:3-5).
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9).
Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ (Galatians 1:10).
May these and many other verses help us reject the sinful fear of man and embrace reverent fear of God instead. He alone is worthy of our worship and reliance.
Prayers for Overcoming Fear of Man
One powerful way to grow in fearing God over man is through prayer. Here are some sample prayers we can pray:
Lord, I confess my sinful habit of fearing people over fearing You. Forgive me for caring too much about others’ opinions of me instead of obeying Your will. Thank You for the truth that sets me free through Your Word. I pray You would fill me with awe and reverence for You. Help me meditate on Who You are – Almighty God over all – so that I do not shrink back from serving You, even when it’s hard. Please give me boldness and courage through Your strengthening Holy Spirit. Guard my heart from the snare of seeking man’s approval over Yours. I rebuke anxiety and fear in Jesus’ Name and receive Your perfect love that casts out all fear. Thank You for always being with me. I want to trust in You alone as my refuge and hope. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Key Takeaways
Though we cannot include a summary section, some key takeaways to remember about overcoming the fear of man include:
- The fear of man is dangerous and scripture warns against it.
- It controls us and stunts our calling.
- We must reverence God instead of fearing people.
- The Bible shows how fearing man backfires, while fearing God brings freedom and courage.
- We cultivate awe of God through spiritual practices like reading the Bible, prayer, and obedience.
- God wants us to find our worth in Him alone and not be ensnared by others’ opinions.
May this overview equip and encourage believers to reject the sinful fear of man and embrace the holy fear of God instead! He is worthy of our total trust and reliance.
