Fear God, Not Man
"Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, 'Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell' (Matthew 10:28). Try only to please God, and He will soon make others pleased with you. 'When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him' (Proverbs 16:7). Young men, be of good courage. Don't worry what the world says or think: you will not always be with the world. Can man save your soul? No. Will man be your judge in the great and dreadful day of judgment? No. Can man give you a good conscience in this life, a good hope in death, a good answer in the morning of resurrection? No! No! No! Man can do nothing of the sort. Then 'Do not fear the reproach of men or be terrified by their insults. For the moth will eat them up like a garment; the worm will devour them like wool' (Isaiah 51:7-8). Call to mind the saying of Gardiner, 'I fear God, and therefore I have no one else to fear.' Go and be like him."
-J.C. Ryle, Thoughts For Young Men