When we have more faith in people than in God, we tend to get our security or confidence by how many people share our views. Jesus had a different perspective, saying in Luke 6:26:

“Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way.”

          It is noteworthy that the great voices in history and those whose perspective proved true were almost always rejected by the majority, and often stood completely alone. We see this with the first apostles. Even so, if we know we are sent by God and that we have received our message from Him, then it really does not matter what men think about us.

          As Paul said, “If I were still seeking to please men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ” (see Galatians 1:10). Just the mentality of seeking our approval or encouragement from men can be the biggest stumbling block that keeps us from being true messengers. Paul understood this well. When his apostolic authority was challenged, he pointed to his afflictions and persecutions as evidence that he was indeed an apostle. How different is that from most who claim to be apostles today?

          Of course, just because not many people listen to us does not prove that we are right either. However, we must heed such warnings as    

Matthew 24:12:

        “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved” (NIV).

          If we get our security from the crowd rather than from the Lord, we will follow the crowd instead of the Lord. The Lord did not say that the love of “some” or “many” would grow cold, but “most.” If we are prone to follow the majority, then we will end up being deceived just as “all Israel went astray” following Absalom and turning on his father, King David.

          How could this thing happen in Israel? The same way it has happened so many times since and still happens today. Like a good politician, Absalom met with people and showed sympathy for their problems. He gradually increased his authority with people because he was a good politician. Then David’s sin with Bathsheba was exposed. You would think that God would certainly depart from David after such a diabolical sin. However, God has considerably more grace than people do, and He did not abandon David. He disciplined David because He loved him, but He would never leave him or forsake him.

          Zadok was High Priest during Absalom’s rebellion. At the risk of his ministry and even his life, he picked up the Ark and followed David into what seemed like certain defeat. Even though “all Israel” was following Absalom, Zadok had the discernment to know that the anointing was still on David and that the Lord was still with David. So, he risked everything to follow the Lord. That is remarkable spiritual discernment and faith. It is the kind that is desperately needed in spiritual leadership in these times.

          Centuries later, one of the greatest commendations of all time was given by the Lord to Zadok through Ezekiel the prophet. The Lord said that it would be the “sons of Zadok” who would be allowed to come near to Him to minister to Him personally (see Ezekiel 44:15-16). So who are the sons of Zadok today?

          When the Pharisees told Jesus that they were free because they were sons of Abraham, Jesus replied that if they were children of Abraham, they would do the deeds of Abraham (see John 8:39-41). Likewise, the true sons of Zadok are those who do the deeds of Zadok—those who follow the Lord even when they are a minority or are alone, and even when it seems certain to cost them everything, maybe even their lives. We are in desperate need of “sons of Zadok” today.