We Don't Do Fear!

 Read Matthew 25:14-30

Let’s talk about fear.

Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,

    but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Isaiah 41:10 - Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

2 Timothy 1:7 - For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

1 John 4:18 - There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

Psalm 34:4 - I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

Joshua 1:9 - Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Proverbs 29:25 - The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.

Here is a familiar verse from a very familiar Psalm. It’s verse 4 of Psalm 23.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley,I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

So, what’s the message? Fear God. That’s a good start to knowing him more.

Don’t fear God’s punishment. It’s not for you. Disciple, yes, but punishment, no.

Don’t fear evil. God is with you.

Don’t fear others or the situations of the world. God is with us.

If fear has to be a part of your life, then fear God more than whatever else you might be afraid of. If fear must control part of your life, then make sure it is the fear of the Lord and it motivates you to please him.

You will still have trouble in the world. You will still be tested by the trials this world throws at us, some of which are substantial. The world might even persecute you for following Jesus, but you don’t need to be afraid.

Now to the third servant in the parable. Fear debilitated him. He was not functional. He acted with cowardice and void of wisdom.

Well, the master shouldn’t have been so hard on him. Fear was just in his nature.

He couldn’t help it. It was his nature to be afraid.

What if being an alcoholic was in your nature? Would a continued state of drunkenness be acceptable?

What if stealing was in your nature? Would we appoint such a person as our treasurer?

What if you had murder in your heart? How high would we let the body count go before we did something?

It doesn’t matter if fear is part of your nature. We are called to take on a new nature. We are a new creation and the fear of anyone other than the Lord is repulsive to God and those who seek and follow him.

If fear seems too hard to overcome, ask yourself this question as if it was from the Lord. Let’s put it in the first person from the Lord.

Did I go to the cross so you could live in fear?

You are saved by grace through faith. That’s a done deal, but you will stand before God and give an account, and the words I was afraid don’t earn you any points.

Fear is never rooted in trusting God. It always falls within the realm of our own understanding.

The grace of God is unbelievable. It goes beyond our worst sin, but know with certainty that fear of anyone or anything other than God does not please and, I would venture to say, angers the Lord. And if anyone is slow to anger, it is the Lord.  

But there is no doubt that he is not happy with this third servant, who was governed by fear. Do not expect to please God if we live in fear, are controlled by fear, or make fear-based decisions. Consider these final words in this parable.

“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

“‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.  And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

I want to be in the well-done, good, and faithful servant line. We don’t fear. We have faith and trust and know with a blessed assurance that we belong to God, and he will be with us wherever we go.

We don’t do fear.

Amen.