7 MORE Good Lessons from 7 MORE Bad Bible Characters (Pt. 5: Felix)

Today we’re gonna jump into Part 5 of our series on digging into various lessons from the New Testament’s not-so-good characters!

And today, for Part 5, we’re gonna look into a powerful lesson from the governor in Acts who judged Paul:

FELIX!

Who Was Felix?

Felix was the governor of Judea.

According to the ancient historian Tacitus, he gives a fairly blatant description of who Felix was:

“He reveled in cruelty and lust, and wielded the power of a king with the mind of a slave.”

–Tacitus

The thing that I found interesting was that Felix’s name means “happy.”

How can an apparently cruel guy like Felix be “happy?”

Well, perhaps this lesson from Felix we’re gonna explore today may help us see how that could be possible.

Felix’s Favor

In Acts 24:27 we read:

“…….and Felix, wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound.”

(Acts 24:27)

What does that mean?

The Greek root word for “favor” is chairo (χαίρω). It means “be glad, thrive; well-off.”

What does this all mean? How does it apply to us?

People’s Favor

For Felix, he decided “to do the Jews a favor.” He chose to make the Jews happy by leaving Paul bound, as if that could make him happy.

At the cost of Paul’s freedom, Felix decided to keep his relations with the Jews happy and thriving–as if this decision could give his cruel heart happiness.

How does this apply to us?

For us as Christians, do we make the same choice that Felix made?

To keep Jesus, His love, and His Bible truth “bound” in the very back of our lives, just so we can stay “in favor” with our friends? Hiding and burying Christ in our hearts just to be socially acceptable?

To leave Jesus behind and bound in church, just so our relations and associations with those who don’t care about God can still thrive throughout the week? To make sure our social lives and social status is “well-off,” but all at the cost of our own freedom as Christians to seriously follow Christ?

Which favor are you living up to, dear reader?

The favor of others?

Or, the favor of God?

God’s Favor

It’s true that living up to God’s favor does come at a cost.

In fact, Jesus bluntly spells out that cost in John 15:

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.  If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

(John 15:18-19)

However, this shouldn’t turn us off from seriously chasing after God’s favor.

Jesus Himself again points out the rich, eternal rewards for those who do experience persecution and suffering for living more for God’s favor instead of the world’s favor:

Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

(Matthew 5:11-12)

And the Bible mentions another beautiful blessing in 1 Peter for those who go through such suffering:

If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.

(1 Peter 4:14)

But what does the Bible have to say for those who still choose to live for the favor of the world and its social benefits?

The World’s Favor

Jesus gives an explicit warning to those who follow the path of worldly favor:

Woe to you when all men speak well of you,

For so did their fathers to the false prophets.

(Luke 6:26)

I think the TLB (The Living Bible) gives an even clearer depiction for this verse:

And what sadness is ahead for those praised by the crowds—for false prophets have always been praised.

(Luke 6:26 TLB)

For those who live for the favor of the world and their worldly-minded friends, great sorrow is surely in their future.

But for those who choose to live for God’s favor–even at the cost of certain friendships–great joy is in store for them indeed!

Blessed are you when men hate you,

And when they exclude you,

And revile you, and cast out your name as evil,

For the Son of Man’s sake.

Rejoice in that day and leap for joy!

For indeed your reward is great in heaven,

For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.

(Luke 6:22-23)

Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

(1 Peter 4:12-13)

Two Favors

Dear reader, which favor are you seeking after?

Are you, like Felix, living for the favor of people around you and the world at large–at the cost of keeping Jesus bound in your life?

Or, are you living up to the favor of Jesus–even at the cost of sacrificing certain friendships?

Which favor are you chasing?

If, dear reader, you feel convicted for living more for the favor of the world and others instead of God’s favor, I wanna appeal to you to simply pray the following prayer below:

I would like to conclude this blog post with two things. One is a song that I hope and pray will deepen your conviction to choose Jesus and His favor above the favor of this world and others.

The second thing that I’d like to conclude this blog post with is a printable worksheet that will–through thought-provoking questions and Bible verses–help to practically guide you in chasing after God’s favor in 5 Biblical ways.

Download the worksheet below!

Amen! Maranatha!