Allowing the Opinions of the Wrong People to Matter and Sacrificing the Wrong Things

Over the past few weeks, we have not only learned to know ourselves better, but we have also begun to explore the danger of not knowing ourselves. We already know we have to see and know ourselves the way God see us and this week we’ll dig deeper into the danger of allowing the opinions of the wrong people to matter too much in our lives. 

In Judges 11 as we look at the life of Jephthah – we see him admired by the people in whose town he has settled, but then all of a sudden his brothers who had treated him badly and deeply hurt him come roaring back into his life. They didn’t want to apologize. They didn’t want to develop a relationship with him. Rather, they wanted to use him for his courage and military leadership skills, somethings they were sorely lacking, because Israel was under attack. 

They promised him much, and though they were undeserving he gave them a pass and allowed himself to be manipulated. His lack of self-love and self-confidence caused him to allow the opinions of the wrong people matter the most in his life. He left the good place God had given him to got back to the place of pain in his life and the consequences were tragic. 

Even so, Jephthah is remembered in Hebrews 11:32, “And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets…” for his faith in God. Let’s ask God to help us escape the dangers of trusting the wrong people and the wrong things, and trust Him fully to develop our character, strengthen our faith, and guide us every step of the way. 

If you want to take a deeper dive with us, there’s still time to pick up your copies of A Year to a Better You, the year-long devotional, and the companion S.O.A.P. Journal