“Fearlessness”...the Wayfarer1/4/14

“Fearlessness”

1/4/14

“The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.

(Proverbs 29:25)

Today I shall attempt to address another of the spirits we should pray to have in our lives, that of fearlessness.

Take particular note that I said fearlessness, not recklessness! There is a difference!

Throughout the scriptures, there are hundreds of references to fear that continually tell us not to fear, but to trust God.

It is only through that trust we may attain the fearlessness to live the life intended for us with no temerity of offending those around us who would bully us into failing to stand up and speak for and about our faith!

How many times during the day do you fail to give witness because of that fear?

What is it that you fear? Derision? Expulsion from some social group? Losing one or more of your “friends”?  Being seen as too Christian? There is no such thing as being too Christian! We may only attempt to follow what Christ taught, to the best of our ability, which includes sharing it with others!

This particular  chapter of Proverbs offers much in the way of advice on how to live that life without the fear that  pervades a soul too timid to allow that soul to rejoice in what it truly is, the gift of God, with a purpose of glorifying that God!

“He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.”

(Proverbs 29:1)

Each time you fail to witness because of a fear of reproach, that witness is further weakened, and unless corrected that witness is destroyed and becomes completely ineffective, particularly when most needed!

“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.”

(Proverbs 29:2)

Authority is given through the consent of those over whom it is exercised. Failure to stand for what you profess to believe is to invite those you fear to take all power and authority and make your life far more miserable and worship far more difficult.

“Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance.

The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.

A man that flattereth his neighbor spreadeth a net for his feet.

In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare: but the righteous doth sing and rejoice.”

(Proverbs 29:3-6)

Those with whom we keep company affect how we approach life, how fearless we are or how fearful we become to express our own faith and our own desires for how our children are to be raised and how their souls may be cared for.

When we are fearless enough to demand that our leadership follow the laws and commandments of our God, we are richly blessed among all men.

When we allow only those who demand more and more contributions to their wealth and power to take control, we should expect that blessing to be withdrawn, and the ensuing further demands and persecution of our faith.

When listening to the pretty speeches and lofty promises made by those seeking power, look for the snare hidden within those speeches and promises, and know that they have only their agenda and interests at heart, not your own!

“The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it.

Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath.

If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest.

The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul.

A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.

 If a ruler hearkeneth to lies, all his servants are wicked.

The poor and deceitful man meet together: the Lord lighteneth both their eyes.”

(Proverbs 29:7-13)

Those who truly consider the plight of the poor know and recognize what poverty is, and its causes. They attempt to give the impoverished a way forward, while meeting immediate NEEDS, and comprehending the difference between need and want.

 This is done without fear, in Christian love, showing those in need a better way through the example of their own lives, rather than through lofty promises that in the end are meaningless, or through the attempt to rob others to give gifts to those who fail to appreciate the effort required to attain those gifts.

For their efforts, those truly practicing that love, may expect scorn and disdain in return, and must be fearless in facing their detractors.

The realization that argument is useless when facing the truly unbelieving is key to how much effort is wasted on them, that should have been expended on those I call the reachable and teachable!

Christians have always been hated in this world, and that hatred will never subside until Christ himself takes the reigns of power from those who will, even when facing Him, refuse to acknowledge His supremacy.

When facing argumentativeness and finding yourself angered by those arguments, refrain from answering in that anger, but answer with the fearlessness of the love given you instead!

When a nation is ruled by a liar, it is in conjunction with all the advisors and confidants who must also be liars just to continue the original lie perpetrated on the people that their interests are truly at heart.

God opens the eyes of those willing to see, the ears of those willing to hear, and the minds of those willing to comprehend truth. Deceptions will inevitably be revealed for what they are.

“The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever.

The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.

When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall.

Correct thy son, and he shall give the rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but the that keepeth the law, happy is he.”

(Proverbs 29:14-18)

The only true king has already established His throne forever, it is His judgment alone that is faithful, honest and true! That king is my Lord Jesus!

The 15^th through the 17^th verse reminds us where the training and the establishment of morality come from. It is from the responsibility taken by the parent, to teach by example, those very things in the home, not accepting the abdication of responsibility that we find so pervasive in our own society. That abdication comes through the fear of a society that uses fear to its advantage in subduing and attempting to eradicate all the faith and belief demanded of us!

The vision given by the ability to effect change in that society comes only through the fearlessness of the trust of a loving God who is in control, and needs be given credit for that control!

“A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand, he will not answer.

Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? There is more hope of a fool than of him.

He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him become his son at the length.

An angry man stirreth up strife and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.

A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit.

Whoso  is partner with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not

When faced with the perils that are abundant in our world, words without actions are without effect. Fearlessness must include the willingness to take action, to make correction to the evil in charge of a world gone awry, and refusing to admit its failures, or the ability of God to make those corrections.

Leaders are supposed to be servants of their people, when that service no longer extends to that people, correction should be made.

Again, heed the words spoken by those in charge, do they say what they mean, and mean what they say, or is it all just bluster and bumbling, all the while attempting to mislead you into the belief that it is all for your own good?

If we want Godly leadership, we need to seek it early on, continually nurturing those, already living in the light of Jesus teachings.

When that nurture is complete, the wisdom to be that leader will be attained and we may expect the results to be once more the blessings we seek.

If we continue to go in search of that leadership in the backrooms and ditches where the deals are made, we will never have that leadership we desire and deserve… unless we are fearless enough to develop it!

The anger and fury of a leader that finds his plans failing to come to fruition can only further destroy those he attempts to lead.

The obvious pride and inability to even see where leadership is failing will bring not only that man low, but his people with him.

Partnering with thieves is a practice found too often in the once hallowed halls of leadership….I submit that that leadership has then lost its soul, and the authority to lead.

Many seek the ruler’s favour; but every man’s judgment cometh from the Lord.

An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.”

(Proverbs 29:26&27)

These last verses both remind us once again that there are choices that must be made, both in the personal lives of those truly attempting to live in the love given us by God through his Son, and the sacrifice made for us without fear for himself, and for all nations searching for a better way to navigate the snares set by those among us whose own greed and callous disregard for that love continues in its destructive path.

We may either, follow, and seek the favor of those we know to be unworthy and unrighteous, or fearlessly walk in the secure knowledge of a just and fair judgment yet to come….for all.

We may trample and tread on the rights and needs of the just who still exist among us in support of those who dishonor Christ and his teachings, or we may bring the fear of God back to their hearts, as it once was experienced by all.

We may allow our fears to rule our lives, and continue in the darkness, or we can accept the admonition from God that we have nothing to fear, and begin to exercise and display that fearlessness.

I apologize for the length of this particular dissertation, but remind the reader that there are many, many more admonitions and promises given through the richness of our Bible that give hope instead of fear, strength instead of weakness, the promise of love instead of hatred, the promise of prosperity to those who remain fearless.

I close as always with the reminder to the reader of just who and what I am. I remain the same simple sinner saved by grace through faith in an omnipotent God, whose ability to keep me allows no room for fear, and secure in the knowledge of a future, far better, given through the sacrifice of my Savior, still as always the servant and soldier journeying though a world littered with those lost along the way because of their disbelief.

2 Timothy 1:12 King James Version (KJV)

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Amen and Amen
the Wayfarer