For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Tim 1:6-7
Paul writes to Timothy as a man advanced in age toward the end of his ministry and life. Timothy served for years with Paul so he was no rookie. But Paul shows genuine concern that he not lose his fire for gospel ministry. We might be tempted to infer that Timothy struggled with fear. A better way to understand Paul’s concern, though, is a simpler explanation that is much more familiar to us.
Timothy was no different than any other man. Fear seldom causes us to acknowledge “I’m afraid”, but it does do strange things to us. Most men claim they aren’t afraid of anything until asked to do something we’re not sure we’re able to do.
A life of faithful obedience to Jesus is always confronted
by daily fears that tempt us to stray.
The feeling of fear is the most prevalent reaction caused by sin in us that always flares toward God and His work. The feeling of fear fuels specific responses in us that oppose God’s work, deceiving us to substitute it with a “me-centered” response.
8 substitutes to identity and address
from the feeling of fear’s deception
Substitute #1. All affections are numbed. We still feel, but not as deeply nor in the way God designed us to. Feelings begin to form our first line of defense to guard our sin. They drive us to react in ways that protect, coddle, hide and even nurture our sinful propensities and activities. Numbed affections also dull sharp thinking. The feeling of fear causes us to justify our actions, even those we know to be sinful, not according to God’s Word but according to my preference.
Substitute #2. We are unable to admire beauty or appreciate goodness without unhealthy craving. When sin rules in any area of our heart (idolatry, greed, lust, covetousness), we feel the need to get everything we can out of anything we get our hands on. Our inability to admire craves everything for selfish purposes, justifying self as a greater purpose.
Substitute #3. We are unable to adore anything but self. Sin centers everything on “me” to make sure I get taken care of. Everything becomes either a self-celebration or a pity party, all ruled by selfish motives. We are unable to show any real love because we fear we will not be loved enough. Fear makes every expression of love an attempt to love self.
Substitute #4. Spiritual atrophy sets in from a lack of spiritual intimacy and a lack of growth and maturity through serving. Any effort toward Christian activity seems more difficult than it should by our calculation, without the reward or return we desire. Fear’s feeling makes us think nothing will change, steals our hope, and causes increasing frustration with God. We are enabled to deny spiritual weakness by dismissing any need or value for “more” in our life.
Substitute #5. We abdicate any responsibility for leadership, whether in our personal life, at home or in the church, by convincing ourselves that we are ‘too busy’, ‘too important’, ‘we do enough’ or are ‘not a good fit’. The only leadership we care to assume provides immediate reward for self-glorification and congratulation with little effort or energy.
Substitute #6. We balk at authority in life, yet wonder why we don’t get more respect from other people. We demand respect where we think we’ve earned it, but any response feels disingenuous and patronizing, even mocking at times. Constructive criticism is an unnecessary concept. We see no value in rebuke. Any encouragement we receive only bloats the ego. The feeling of fear alarms us to guard life and maintain control.
Substitute #7. We are ashamed to be counted among God’s people and confess “Jesus is Lord”. We may believe Christian doctrine, but we ‘flinch’ at standing for it. We may claim Jesus, but we wouldn’t dare tell anyone. The feeling of fear affords us the freedom to disconnect our words from our actions.
Substitute #8. We grow apathetic about loving God first. The sacrifice it demands seems too high a price, and the standard too high for us to achieve. The feeling of fear allows us to accept our Christian faith as a helpful accessory to life. But following Jesus never becomes a defining priority, compelling strength or guiding mission for life.
These descriptions provide general responses that each play out in different ways. And while they are more extreme descriptions, we are all too familiar with these paths that lead to extremes. We shouldn’t find consolation in the fact that we’ve not yet reached the extreme when we know we are on the path headed for it. We should respond when conviction arises from recognizing where the path leads that we are on.
When we get honest with ourselves we recognize that every man has a propensity to cower when called to God’s work.
Paul called out fear in Timothy’s life because he knew the hard challenges and temptations ahead that he would face, and how fear would tempt him. Those are the same hardships and temptations we all face. The feeling of fear that tempts us to substitute for God’s work can only be conquered with God’s power through faith.
The Bible does not say that real fear is a feeling. Biblical fear means DOING God’s will. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding.” (Psa 111:110) The feeling of fear is a false substitute that deceives us regarding God’s intended purpose for our life. Fear is not a reactionary, measured feeling, but a practice to walk obediently in truth for good. God intended fear to help and guide us in walking by faith with Him, not substitute something else for faith in Him. We walk in the “fear of the Lord” when we “fan into flame the gift of God” within us, as Paul instructs Timothy. Wherever fear’s feeling deceives us regarding God’s will, we can know it is substituting for His work in us.
Faith chars fear’s substitutes
by fanning the gospel’s flame within us.
Stoke that gospel flame in your heart, Christian, to walk with the Lord by faith in His wisdom!