While I admit the loss of my job would be unsettling. I have greater fears. These fears are:
- The fear of rejection.
- The fear of being judged on the basis of my careless words.
- The fear that my actions don't match my beliefs.
The fear of rejection - I admit it, I want to be liked and accepted by others. In the pursuit of acceptance, I am guilty of muzzling my thoughts and avoid sharing the truth.
In today's go along to get along society, we are often silent in order to avoid labels such as: hate monger, bigot, or worse.
True love requires that we share the truth in love, and risk the rejection of coworkers, acquaintances, friends and family.
The fear of being judged on my careless thoughts and words? What? Where does this come from? In Matthew 12:36, Jesus tell us "on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak" (ESV). I am guilty of disrespectful thoughts and grumblings. The idea that I will account for those thoughts frightens me.
This fear motivates me to carefully plan how I feed my thought life. How will the thoughts and images from the things I read and view play themselves out in my speech and thought life?
Finally, the the fear of hypocrisy. Is there any sort of person we disdain more than a hypocrite? I pray that my actions are congruous with my words. I admit I am a hypocrite. My prayer and goal is remove these hypocrisies each and everyday. I desperately want to be the same man at all times. I do not want to act one way at church or in a community group, and act differently on the job or in other circumstances. May those who know and love me, hold me accountable.
I do not find these fears crippling. I find them a call to introspection and to work out my salvation (Phil 2:12).
May all of us have healthy fears that provide proper motivation.
