Evaluating our fears.

Yes, it is very true that we fear a man rather than God. The gensis of our fears lies in our early childhood. When we were very young and would commit any mistake, we would be scolded and thrashed for it. We were perhaps made to understand that - committing mistakes in life is the biggest sin, ever. We used to let down on this account on many occasions. We were never told that 'mistakes' are part of the game and if one does something, mistakes are bound to occur. We still carry that guilt feeling with us. So, when even today, we carry out any task, we feel apprehensive about its outcome and people's reactions to it. We may welcome constructive criticism to our work (but that do not come very often) but we feel jittery and disturbed by mere criticism. We sub-consiously carry this feeling in our mind - what others will say and this feeling lead us to think negatively. Consequently, we do not venture into new assignements or do not try new ideas because of possible criticism. The one who does not bother about other's reaction - just go on and on in his/her life and always succeeds, this is what I believe.

Fear of judgment isn't what stops me from doing things I think are wrong, it's my conscience. If I do something to someone that I'm not proud of, I endlessly think about how they must feel, put myself in their shoes, etc. until I break down and correct it. And then I make it a point to never do it again, because who wants all that?

Just like "Doubting Thomas" in the bible; many of us are geared towards responding more towards things that we can feel, see or hear rather than things we cannot. The consequences we face from others is part of our daily existence and affects us NOW. Maybe this is why we tend to not really think about the hereafter?

In all honesty I fear god more than I fear any man living on this earth. I fear wondeing where god is going to put me when I die in heaven or hell. I am daily always thinking of this I haven't done anything rally bad except lose my temper and say words that I know god is totally against. I have asked him for forgiveness so many times but find my self doing it all over again. I hope and pray that god brings me home to be with him the day my ending days come.

I think this is very true and it's relevence depends very much on your religious beliefs! people who have a strong belief in god are likely to not be so worried about what other people think of them and more worried about living their life the way god wants them to! a lot of people today are very worried about what other people think of them, and sadly i think this can sometimes stop people expressing their indiviuality! xxx

I think it is very true. And I feel it is this God that we need to fear. He is the one who will judge us, and His judgments are for eternity...I believe that my life needs to be spent pleasing Him, since He is the One who made me, and He can break me...forever. I fear His wrath even more than I do my wife's. My wife can simply kick me to the curb. As bad as that is...my Lord can put something so bad on me that I will never be able to shake it off. So I am more afraid of Him. But yes, I feel it is really true what you have said, akon99. We fear losing our jobs, so we will lie, or cheat, or do whatever the boss tells us to do. We fear losing friends, so we will lie or cheat with or for them. I think it is more a case of we don't trust God to protect or provide for us if we don't choose His ways over man's.

If you remember GOD always, and never forget HIS existence ...then the fear of humans won't bother you. the reason ,we have fear of humans is , forgetting Almighty GOD..

More true than ever