Chasing Carrots - Part 1
January 9, 2022Today's message was the first in a 4-part series called Chasing Carrots. The message is here. Bottomline: Be a God-pleaser, not a people-pleaser.
"GOD made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before him." 2 Samuel 22:21
We've hit on a sub-topic from one of today's scripture references. Proverbs 29:25 says "Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe." Patrick noted that the Hebrew word translated as snare refers also to a hook or noose. I'd like to also remind ourselves of the discussions we've had about fearing man versus fearing God. "Fear" in this sense is not so much "quake in your boots" but rather whose reaction will you care most about. Will you care what someone else thinks about it, or what God thinks about it?
The Torah (and the Old Testament generally) are replete with examples of pleasing God versus pleasing man. Noah and Abraham come to mind...
Noah, we all know, focused on pleasing God by following his instruction to build a boat and ignoring the ridicule of people. Apparently he lost all his friends in the process. But he gained God's favor.
Abraham ultimately chose between following God and keeping his beloved wife Sarah. We all know that Abraham took Isaac out and was prepared to sacrifice him on the altar. God stopped him and blessed him. What is not so well known is that Abraham and Sarah never saw each other alive again. As best we can tell, they were estranged and at great distance from each other for the rest of their lives. Abraham may not have been totally aware of what was at stake at the time, but ultimately following God meant loosing his beloved wife.
When pleasing God, there can be anticipated downsides (sacrifices) both realized and unrealized. Best to be as prepared as possible.
Interestingly, we are called (indirectly) to be people-blessers. God tells Aaron, brother to Moses and head of the priesthood, how to bless people. Words matter. Numbers 6:22-27, "And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 'Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them: The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.'" I heard that so many times over the decades as a final prayer or blessing at dismissal of a church service. I think I had it memorized as a boy.
Here are some other Old Testament references on this topic:
Isaiah 2:22, Stop regarding man in whose nostrils is breath, for of what account is he?
Proverbs 16:7, When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Proverbs 29:26, Many seek the face of a ruler, but it is from the Lord that a man gets justice.
Isaiah 51:7, Listen to me, you who know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear not the reproach of man, nor be dismayed at their revilings.
1 Samuel 15:24, Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice."
Psalm 146:3-4, Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.
Psalm 16:1-11, Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the Lord, "You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you." As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight. The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips. The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.
The Torah warns us over and over... Here's one of the more succinct passages: "Do not follow [chase] your hearts and your eyes after which you prostitute yourselves" (Numbers 15:39). In other words, use your head (brain, mind).
So, what pleases God? He's layed it out thoroughly in His book. I would suggest that faith in God is number one, and being good is number 2. Again, how to do both is all set out for you in His book. Maybe start with the Ten Commandments...