The Fear Factor

I read this today and was awakened to a truth in my life.

I have fear. Fear of what people think of me. Fear of not having friends. Fear of bad things happening. Fear of people not approving of my decisions. Fear of people that do not believe like I believe. Fear of making people mad. Fear of not having enough money to pay the bills. Fear of doing this leadership thing wrong. Fear of teaching something wrong to 275 people. Fear of not accomplishing the purpose for which I am here.

Yet, I do not seem to grasp in my heart of hearts that these fears are all trivial. I read this Psalm and begin to see that my greatest fear needs to be a fear of God. When I act out of my fear of a great and fearsome God – all of the other fears seem to pale. What can man do to me that could be worse than what God could bring upon me?

By the way – I love verses 7 and 8. Security – that is the bottom line.

Psalm 112

1 Praise the Lord.

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,

who finds great delight in his commands.

2 His children will be mighty in the land;

the generation of the upright will be blessed.

3 Wealth and riches are in his house,

and his righteousness endures forever.

4 Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,

for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.

5 Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely,

who conducts his affairs with justice.

6 Surely he will never be shaken;

a righteous man will be remembered forever.

7 He will have no fear of bad news;

his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.

8 His heart is secure, he will have no fear;

in the end he will look in triumph on his foes.

9 He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor,

his righteousness endures forever;

his horn will be lifted high in honor.

10 The wicked man will see and be vexed,

he will gnash his teeth and waste away;

the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.