"The fear of man bringeth a snare; but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe."  Proverbs 29:25

When did you learn to be fearful of others?  Was it from the bully who harassed you back in elementary school?  Maybe it was the first time someone laughed at you for a wrong answer or a fouled basketball shot in gym class.  You soon learned to avoid situations that might lead to ridicule.  People in our lives have taught us that we must be careful of others or suffer consequences. 

The Bible teaches us that the fear of man brings a snare.  How so?  Think about what happens when we become afraid.  We protect ourselves.  We avoid situations that might create conflict.  Our emotions range from anger to feelings of powerlessness.  Over time, we become fearful to disagree, fearful to be ourselves, fearful to separate ourselves, fearful to admit we're Christians, fearful to serve our Lord...  We become victims.

One of the best examples in the Bible of someone who fears others is surprisingly, Pontius Pilate.  Now Pilate was a powerful man.  He was the Roman governor of Judea during the time of Jesus.  We remember him as the one who allowed Jesus to be crucified.  John, a disciple of Jesus, tells the story of Pilate best:

"Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?

They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee.

Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law.  The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death:  that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which He spake, signifying what death he should die."  John 18:29-32

In this passage, Jesus has been brought to Pilate after being questioned by Caiaphas the high priest and by his son-in-law, Annas.  Pilate sought to release Jesus back to the Jews, who adamantly resisted the idea.  You see they already had purposed in their hearts to kill Jesus, but the only one who could lawfully order his death to be carried out was Pilate. 

Pilate too questioned Jesus to determine if He was indeed the King of the Jews.  With his neck on the line for ordering the death of a possibly innocent man, he had to discover why the Jews had delivered Jesus to him.  Look at how Jesus responds...

"Pilate therefore said unto Him, Art thou a king then? 

Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king.  To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth.  Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. 

Pilate saith unto him, What is truth?  And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.  But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the Passover:  will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?

Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas.  Now Barabbas was a robber."  John 18:37-40

Pilate had made up his mind to release Jesus, but the Jews refused to accept Him.  They would rather have had Barabbas, a thief.  When you compare the two, it is truly astonishing that they would rather see Jesus brutally killed; Jesus who had healed the sick and lame, Jesus who had raised the dead, Jesus who forgave sin, Jesus who wept for the city of Jerusalem and its people.  But this too was part of God's plan. 

After Jesus had been scourged by the soldiers who placed a crown of thorns on His head and a purple robe across His shoulders, Pilate tried again to persuade the crowd.  He told the Jews that he found no fault in Jesus.  In response, they shouted all the louder, "Crucify Him".  Finally Pilate ordered them to take Him away and crucify Him themselves.  Here's their response:

"The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God. 

When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid; and went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou?  But Jesus gave him no answer.  Then said Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me?  Knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? 

Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above:  therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him:  but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend:  whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.

When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.  And it was the preparation of the Passover, and about the sixth hour:  and he said unto the Jews, Behold your King!"  John 19:7-14

What happened to Pilate?

"When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person:  see ye to it."  Matthew 27:24

Pilate was a victim of the fear of man.  He feared the Jews would start a revolt or that he would be reprimanded by the Emperor because of his action, especially if there was an uprising.  He found it easier to give in to the demands of the Jews rather than to do what he knew was right.  How justified he must have felt when he could claim that he personally found no fault in Jesus.  Certainly Pilate is forever remembered as the one who condemned Jesus to death. 

Let us be reminded again that the Bible teaches us that the "fear of man brings a snare."  Fear is a tool that Satan uses against us.  Unfortunately, it is a very effective means of keeping Believers from obeying our Lord.  The late Del Fehsenfeld Jr., said in his book, Ablaze With His Glory, "Whenever we substitute other things for God's approval, we will end up ensnared in the fear of man (p. 90)."

What are some of the snares?? 

*The need to be accepted by others

*The need to have the status associated with a position or title

*The need to show off how many possessions we have

*The need to compete with others

If you are experiencing jealousy, an unwillingness to be criticized, resentful if you are misunderstood or not taken seriously, can't admit you don't have everything in control, or are discouraged and depressed with feelings of being unloved, then you are in bondage to the fear of man.  These insecurities we all struggle with indicate roots of pride and self-centeredness. 

*Fear keeps us from doing what God calls us to do. When we are fearful of unpleasant consequences, we become very silent.  We are often more willing to disobey our Lord than suffer reproach for doing what is righteous. 

*Fear of ridicule keeps us from witnessing to others who need to hear the Word of God. 

*Fear of reprisal keeps us from speaking truth in love to the wayward one. 

*Fear of persecution keeps us from holding authorities accountable.  Fear keeps us from being close to our Lord, for surely it signifies a lack of trust in Him. 

Rather than fear people, we should fear God.  He alone is righteous and holy and has the power over us that we believe others have.  Remember what Jesus said to Pilate:

"Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above..." John 19:11a

When we worry more about what people think, than what God thinks, we are living a life of bondage.  We will be forever swayed by those who possess the power to hurt us.  Are you attached to Jesus Christ strongly enough that you can withstand the demands of the unrighteous?

Confess your sin to our Lord and ask Him to cleanse you of the need for acceptance and approval by anyone but Him.  Ask for help in overcoming your fear of man.  Ask Him to strengthen your relationship with Him, that you may be a more devoted servant and love Him more than all others. 

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"The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear Him, in those that hope in His mercy."  Psalm 147:11

"Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

But exhort one another daily, while it is called To-day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

While it is said, today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

For some, when they had heard, did provoke:  howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.

But with whom was he grieved forty years?  was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?

And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?

So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief."  Hebrews 3:12-19

"Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them:  but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it."  Hebrews 4:1-2

"Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight:  but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."  Hebrews 4:11-16

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"And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise." Hebrews 6:15