Who or What Do You Fear?

Who or what do you fear? Any time we fear anything or anyone more than we fear God, we have committed idolatry. So what is it that you are afraid of?

Do you fear:

1. losing your job?
2. losing your home?
3. people of other races?
4. dying?
5. going hungry?
6. going to jail?
7. the bank?
8. the IRS?
9. the government?

What is it exactly that you are afraid of? You may say, that yes I am afraid of some of those things that you mention, but that doesn't mean I'm guilty of idolatry. You are guilty of idolatry if you fear anything more than you fear the living God. Why? Because you make the object of your fear greater than God Himself. You have elevated the power of the thing you fear above the power of God. It signifies your lack of faith and confidence in God. When you fear false gods you obey them. Many times we obey these false gods out of our fear despite the fact that our obedience is considered treason against God.

So is it OK to be afraid? Yes, by all means! Fear the Lord alone. This is the beginning of wisdom. Do not fear men nor what they can do to you. Because they are not all powerful. Even the state is not all powerful. Their hands are subject to the hand of God. Rather fear the Lord above all that you might find eternal life.

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. (Matthew 10:28)

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." (Proverbs 9:10)

For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised; He is also to be feared above all gods. (1 Chronicles 16:25)

For so it was that the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and they had feared other gods, (2 Kings 17:7)

Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you. (1 Samuel 12:24)