FEAR GOD, NOT MAN
We live in a world that constantly pushes us to seek human approval — afraid of rejection, afraid of being seen as a failure, and afraid of not meeting others’ expectations. Even in spiritual matters, we often still get caught in the question:
“What do people think about me?”
rather than
“What does God think about me?”
The Bible reminds us:
“Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.”
(Proverbs 29:25 NIV)
Fear of man is often an invisible trap. We say “yes” when we want to say “no.” We try to appear strong so we won’t be seen as failures. We hide our weaknesses so we won’t be judged.
In ministry, we’re afraid our prayers won’t look “powerful.” At work, we’re afraid others won’t like us. In our families, we fear not meeting the expectations of parents, spouses, or children.
This kind of fear can wear us out, steal our peace, and ultimately lead us away from what God truly wants for us.
King Saul is a powerful example of how fear of people can lead to downfall. Saul knew God’s command, but because he feared losing face in front of the people, he disobeyed. He valued human approval more than obedience to God, and in the end, it destroyed him.
In contrast, the Bible says:
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”
(Proverbs 9:10 NIV)
The fear of the Lord does not mean being afraid that God will punish us at any moment. Fearing God means honoring Him, prioritizing Him, and obeying Him above all else.
The fear of the Lord enables us to say “yes” when God wants us to say yes, and “no” when He wants us to say no — even when others don’t understand.
Maybe you’re currently struggling under different pressures:
– Pressure to appear successful in the eyes of family or coworkers.
– Financial pressure that tempts you to take shortcuts just to be accepted.
– Ministry pressure to look spiritual and not disappoint people.
– Social pressure to fit into the standards of this world.
In your prayers, don’t come to God only with a list of needs — also bring your heart that fears people’s opinions. Ask Him for the courage to live for an audience of One — not for the approval of others.
When we fear God, we become more at peace, wiser in our decisions, calmer even when people disagree with us, and stronger when pressure comes. We are not called to please everyone — we are called to please the One who gave His life for us.
Source: Ps. Dave Rustanto (Global Prayer Coordinator)
