Why do we regard the opinions of others so deeply? Is it a blessing or a curse? Is that even the right question? Might we fare better by challenging the basic presupposition that it’s good to regard the opinions of others as valuable? I favor the latter strategy. I believe God does, too.
God has no regard for man’s opinions (I’m referring to man’s natural opinions, of course, not those which exist as a part of his sanctification in Christ). In fact, He despises them because they are polluted. If someone says to you, “Here’s a tall glass of sewage, drink up,” would you ever drink it? Why not? Well, because it’s polluted and extremely detrimental to your health.
To give more regard to man’s opinion of you than God does is to ingest a glass of sewage.
For the LORD of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up—and it shall be brought low; against all the cedars of Lebanon, lofty and lifted up; and against all the oaks of Bashan; against all the lofty mountains, and against all the uplifted hills; against every high tower, and against every fortified wall; against all the ships of Tarshish, and against all the beautiful craft.
And the haughtiness of man shall be humbled, and the lofty pride of men shall be brought low, and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.
And the idols shall utterly pass away. And people shall enter the caves of the rocks and the holes of the ground, from before the terror of the LORD, and from the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to terrify the earth.
In that day mankind will cast away their idols of silver and their idols of gold, which they made for themselves to worship, to the moles and to the bats, to enter the caverns of the rocks and the clefts of the cliffs, from before the terror of the LORD, and from the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to terrify the earth.
Stop regarding man in whose nostrils is breath, for of what account is he?
-Isaiah 2:12-22
Whose opinion shall we assign value to, the creature’s or the Creator’s? Who’s got the power to affect change in our lives, to bestow blessing or a curse, the one who breathes or the One who gives breath?
Then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.
-Genesis 2:7
The prophet Isaiah wrote precisely of what I’m writing about here. Who is man that you would regard his opinion of you? To do so is to fear man. “Stop regarding man in whose nostrils is breath, for of what account is he” (Isaiah 2:22)? You fear man’s words will cut you like a knife. You fear him because you’ve given him power over you, power that isn’t his to wield. His critical words are like the crack of a whip. Sometimes you’re cut so deep you feel like you want to die. Maybe you’ve even contemplated death in the past as your way out. All because of someone’s opinion of you.
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
-Matthew 10:28
Left to his own devices – winning or losing by world standards – man is born, lives, and dies a wretch. He is polluted. His thoughts are like sewage. Why would you ever drink them? Jesus certainly knew better.
Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.
-John 2:23-25
Even when people praised Him in the highest way possible, He didn’t trust them. He saw it as a trap (as should you).
We thirst for the approval of others. When they offer us a crumb of respect or they feed us a line of praise, we savor it as fuel for happiness. We imprint it on our souls, save notes and voicemails and song lists in an effort to cling to these fleeting moments. We watch movies to catch glimpses of the way things used to be, or ought to be (at least in our depraved, misguided, sad minds), or we wished they would be. We chase dreams and we aspire to be accepted by others, to be approved, hopefully one day before we die. It’s all a ruse.
STOP!
Stop yourself in your own tracks. You’re under a curse that has no right holding you. Deliverance is but a change of perspective away! Listen to the words of the apostle Paul, my friend.
For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
-Galatians 1:10
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
-Romans 12:2
Is it a blessing or a curse to regard the opinions of others so deeply? I think the Bible clearly gives us the answer. It’s a curse. So, stop it and be free. Am I suggesting you ignore a true friend’s encouragement? Not at all, for they are truly blessings indeed. What I’m exposing here is that nerve which plays victim to the flesh of others; you know, the one that burns viscerally when someone selfish plucks it. All you want is for the pain it causes to stop, so you succumb to the manipulator. That’s the moment you have failed yourself. It’s time to respond differently, my friend. It’s time to turn the tables on your oppressors (pray for them – they need it). It’s time to transcend and be delivered.
Love in Christ,
Ed Collins