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Dripping Springs Weekly Bulletins
Are You Scared of God?
James Tufts was the biggest boy in the sixth grade. Everybody was scared of him, partly because he was so big, but he had failed the 5th grade and was older than we were.
In the 8th grade, my best friend, Charles Pope, died after receiving an injury on the school playground. Some wondered if James Tufts had been responsible, but as far as I know no accusation was ever made nor was anything done to him. Our fear of him was not put to rest as a result of Charles’ death.
Many are puzzled by the fact that the Bible says we should “Fear God, and keep His commandments,” as found in Ecclesiastes 12:13. Does this mean that man must fear God just as we feared James Tufts? Let us see what the Bible has to say on this subject.
- “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell,” Matthew 10:28.
- “Therefore fear, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it,” Hebrews 4:1.
- “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” Proverbs 9:10.
In both the Hebrew Old Testament and the Greek New Testament the word translated “fear” has similar meanings. Depending on the context, “fear” may mean “to be afraid, fearful, terrify”, or “to stand in awe, give reverence, honor.” The New Testament word usually comes from phobos, from which we get “phobia.” W. E. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words includes in his definition of that word:
“...reverential fear of God, as a controlling motive of the life, in matters spiritual and moral, not a mere fear of His power and righteous retribution, but a wholesome dread of displeasing Him, a fear which banishes the terror that shrinks from His presence, Romans 8:15.” (page 84)
It is evident that there is a place for fear in the Christian’s life, but not a “scared” feeling. Romans 3:12-18 classes those who have no “fear of God” with hard-hearted sinners. The Apostle Peter wrote that we should “..pass the time of our sojourning here in fear,” 1 Peter 1:17. What was it that motivated Paul to “persuade men”? He wrote that it was “the terror of the Lord,” 2 Corinthians 5:11.
Perhaps an illustration from a family setting can help us see the difference in being scared of God and having the fear of God. Many a loving father and mother exercise their parental authority with the use of corporal punishment. My father used his belt. This may cause some modern folk to cringe in “fear,” but when a loving father is instructing his children in the real discipline of life, the children are not fearful of him, but of the consequences of disobeying him.
The Bible states that those who do not have that “fear of God” in their lives possess only:
“...a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries,” Hebrews 10:26-27.
If you loved your father and knew he loved you, then you were not scared of him. But if he gave you a chore to do, or forbade you to go somewhere or do something, you knew he meant it.
The Bible describes God as characterized by the word “love,” 1 John 4:8. However, the Bible also says Christians should:
“Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in his goodness: Otherwise you also will be cut off,” Romans 11:22.
What if you are driving down a busy thoroughfare and see the flashing lights of a police car in the rear-view mirror? If you are driving within the law, there need be no fear for you. But what if you are exceeding the speed limit? Then get ready to “face the music.”
In 1 John 4:18 we read:
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears is not made perfect in love,” 1 John 4:18.
When our love is perfected, or is mature, complete, there is no fear of the consequences of sin, for we have the assurance that our sins are forgiven. Mature, complete love motivates us to “keep His commandments,” 1 John 5:3, therefore we “know that we know Him, because we keep His commandments,” 1 John 2:3.
If we are true to Him, we can have the “peace of God that surpasses all understanding,” that comes from the “God of peace,” Philippians 4:7, 9.
No, we need not cower in fear in God’s presence, but we do need to stand in awe of Him, earnestly dread to displease Him, and continue to live in harmony within His Word and His love.
I’m not afraid of James any more, but still I am challenged to take the gospel to others so they will not be afraid of God, but will instead lovingly serve Him.
Carl B. Garner
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“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
“If God be for us, who can be against us?”
“Let your conduct be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He Himself has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you. So we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear. What can man do unto me.”
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Does God Keep Score?
Several years ago, I was having a conversation with someone about getting credit for ideas. I mentioned that it does not matter to me whether or not I get credit for an idea because God knows who did what and I was content to let God handle such things. This person then wondered whether or not God really credited man with such things. In essence, the question can be framed: “Does God keep score?”
First, we need to understand that God does not keep score in the sense that if we could only get enough points, then we would win salvation. The Bible teaches that salvation is not something we earn. Jesus said in Luke 17:10, “So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.” When we do everything that God tells us, we still have not earned salvation. We are still dependent upon Him for eternal life. Salvation is a gift that God gives upon the condition of faith and obedience (see Heb. 11:6 and 5:9). Neither our faith nor our obedience earns our salvation, but God promises to give us salvation when we trust and obey Him. It is the promise of God in which we trust and obey Him. It is the promise of God in which we trust, not in our own faith or obedience. In that regard, God does not keep score, because no matter how high a score we get, we will never be high enough to earn our salvation.
Second, neither does God keep score as to how long we have been faithful Christians, as if that would make a difference in our salvation. Jesus told the parable of the “laborers in the vineyard” in Matthew 20:1-16. In the parable, the vineyard owner agrees with laborers for the same wage though they began working at different times in the day. At the end of the day, they all got the same pay. The ones who started early complained, saying they worked longer than the others. The owner asked them whether or not they agreed to that pay. They did, so that is what they got. The lesson from the parable is that salvation is available for all and it does not matter when you started working for God. Everyone, whether young or old gets the same pay – eternal life, and for that we ought to be very thankful. No, God does not keep score in regard to one’s longevity of service in His kingdom.
Third, there is a sense, however, in which God does keep score. In Heb. 6:10, we read: “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” We learn from this passage that God takes note of those who do good things and He remembers them. Moreover, Jesus said, “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal” (Matt. 6:20). What are these treasures that we are to be laying up in heaven? He explains in Luke 12:33, “Sell that ye have, and give alms, provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.” When we do good things for others, we lay up treasures in heaven. Are they earning our salvation? No. What are these treasures for? There is only one explanation. Because God wants us to appreciate the results of the good things that we did, once we are in Heaven. That will be our treasure.
Does God keep score? He does not keep score when it comes to good works meriting salvation. Regardless of how high the score, it would never be enough to earn salvation. However, He does keep score when it comes to having treasure in heaven over which we can appreciate the results of our good efforts. And so John can write, “Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward” (2 John 1:8). God does not keep score to determine who earned what, but to determine who IS what!
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