The First Fear

I have come to discover one thing that has been a hindrance to many Christians making exceptional landmark in the world and body of Christ as a whole. It will be important to identify that we need to take some steps towards profiting in whatever area we seek to take charge.

Every man in this world has something within them called “Fear”. However, those who have received commendation processed it while those who received condemnation preserved the fear. Everyone has one thing or the other they fear. When it got to a point in the ministry of Jesus, He became weary of what was ahead of Him but He didn’t preserve the fear He processed it... “But at thy will”. That statement shows I won’t allow the fear dictate to me. This is what I call the second fear: the fear of what challenges you on the road to doing what you are so sure to do for the master. This is the first kind of fear; not knowing what is ahead. Every man faces this.

The first fear that I want to emphasize here is quite pertinent to productivity. It is what you must combat as a believer before even talking about the second fear (fear of what is ahead) described above.  


I have been stuck many times myself not doing anything, exerting energy, brooding on if a particular action is what God would want me to do. And I become so engrossed with the fear of not offending God. Have you been there before or there now? It is what I call the second fear.

I have discovered there is this fear that has become prevalent among believers which has a capacity to limit how much of performance is seen. It is recorded in the scriptures how Jesus gave three servants talents. The talents are ideas locking up in the heart of men. It was an avenue to make more for the king and also increase the influence of the bearer of such talent. The master gave the talent, what they are to do with it he didn’t make mention of.

Two of the servants went ahead to trade with the talent, they engaged the capacity to which they have in the way they felt comfortable. In the course of doing this, they must have influenced those they traded with. Trading is a dialogue not a monologue and at the end three people made profit; the master, the servant and the recipient of the talent.

Now, there is a servant who was given just one talent, he decided to keep the talent safe peradventure he may run at a loss because the master is a hard man. He had always known the master to be a tough man. He didn’t want to offend the master. However, when the master came back, he received condemnation.

This is the deal, many of us are stuck in situations where we need to take decisions but we await Him to give specific orders on what we intend to do after the talent (Christ Mind) had already been given. You don’t know what to do next because you are scared of the master, you don’t want to get Him angry. “I don’t know if this is what He wants me to do” you say. You might be threading the part of the man with one talent.

Spiritual direction does not discourage discretion just as the scripture says “Now you have the mind of Christ”. One thing that you should ask yourself is “If I take this bold step, will it profit the kingdom?” don’t be afraid to take the step you feel to take. The Master described the man who couldn’t profit with his talent as lazy. Being a Christian does not put your mental ability on suspension.  

Are you afraid taking a decision, indecisive on if it’s what God wants you to do or not? The other servants given five and two talents were not told what to do with it, all they did was trade with it (hoping to make profit for the master) according to their discretion and at the end it paid off.

If you have given your life to Him wholeheartedly you need not exercise fear of pleasing Him. Now you can approach the throne of grace boldly. In this Kingdom love, peace and sound mind is the key and not fear. Process the fear don’t preserve it.

Friend, as you go this week can you just work on that fear? Preserving it only gives room for depression, process it by faith; that’s the antidote.

Be Innovated
Olufemi Ibitoye
@toyeolufemi