Fear of Man

Proverbs 29:25

The fear of man lays a snare,
but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.

One would think that by fearing man, he could avoid the snares of man. But this proverb says that such fear actually lays a snare. How so? Isn't man dangerous? Does he not possess evil intention? It would seem prudent to have a healthy fear of those who can do harm.

The second line helps put the first into perspective. Yes, we should be wary of man, but that very caution should then turn us to the Lord to be our safeguard. But more to the point, we are to find our safety in living for the Lord and according to his commands for us. We often lose our focus on living for the Lord because of the fear of man - fear of what man thinks of us, fear of what man may do to us. We often swerve off the path of God's commands because of the same fear, not trusting God to safe-keep us. Keeping the commands of God and living for him is the prudent way of keeping safe.

Jesus' comments in Luke 12:4-7 serve as a commentary of this proverb: "I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows."