Listen to this, all you people! Pay
attention, everyone in the world! High and low, rich and poor--listen! For my
words are wise, and my thoughts are filled with insight. I listen carefully to
many proverbs and solve riddles with inspiration from a harp. Why should I fear
when trouble comes, when enemies surround me? Psalm 49:1-5
When the sons of Korah wrote this they were
really telling those Israelites to listen up. Actually it was written to not
only the Jews, but to everyone in the world. Pay attention to this wise advice.
Don’t be afraid—no fear.
What are you afraid of? When I was growing
up no one locked their doors—on their house or cars. I’ve noted that there are
still a few people around who don’t lock the doors to their homes or cars, but
for the most part, everyone locks up. We even lock the doors when we are home.
We had a friend who lives in North Las Vegas who had tools stolen out of his
open garage when he was in the backyard mowing his lawn. That was gutsy. He
locks up tight now no matter where he is. We learned a lesson from him—lock up
even when you are home. Although we don’t live in a high crime area, we still
need to be cautious. That is wise action for securing our material possessions.
How do we secure our spiritual treasures? Is that necessary? Jesus told us in
the Sermon on the Mount…Don't store up
treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where
thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and
rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your
treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Matthew 6:19-21.
What is your heart’s desire? Are you afraid that someone will try to take away “your
heart’s desire” or keep you from getting it? What is your fear? Problems,
illness, trouble, death? Sounds in the dark of the night? No food, no money, no love
or attention?
No fear…
The
LORD is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me? Psalm
118:6
And
as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the
day of judgment, but we can face Him with confidence because we live like Jesus
here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all
fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we
have not fully experienced His perfect love. 1 John 4:17-18
Prayer
~ Lord, give us wisdom to look to You—to put our trust in You—and not to fear.
You have promised to never leave us or forsake us. You are our hope and our
salvation. We love you…with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength.
© 2016 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT)
unless otherwise noted.
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm
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