Saturday, March 22 Proverbs 29:25

Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.

FATHERLY QUOTES

My father often used memorized quotes as a covert way to pass on life lessons during the “teachable moments” of my youth. This verse from Proverbs is not one that I specifically remember from him, but it matches his way of trying to impress certain knowledge upon me without being too preachy. Some of those quotes were verses in Proverbs, as they contain such simple phrases that pack a lot of meaning into a few words.

Like much of Proverbs, we need to have some context for the meaning of the phrases. Fear of man contrasts to fear of God, in which fear is more akin to respect or reverence than to being afraid. For those who may not know, a snare in this context is a trap used to hunt small game such as rabbits often laid in a game trail.

The wisdom in this proverb is to warn us that putting our faith and belief in mankind rather than God will result in us being trapped or captured by human desires and weakness. The fear of man would lead us to make decisions based on the perceived opinions of others rather than based on obeying God`s will and serving him.

The fear of God calls us to serve others just as Jesus served us. Being trapped by the opinions of others leads to selfish acts trying to keep up with the changing whims of popularity. This may lead you to compromise your values or make unwise choices because of peer pressure. It is better to have the consistent guidance that comes with the fear of God and adhering to his holy ways.

Trusting in God can provide true freedom from anxiety, knowing that his plans for you are good and that he will protect you from harm. You will be able to navigate life with a sense of purpose and confidence, without fear of what others might say or do.

Dear God, please guide me along the trail you intend for me, keeping me safe from the traps in life that might cause me harm. Help me to not be afraid of the opinions of others, knowing that they are subordinate to your will for me. Amen

Laurel Davis

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