Who/What do you Trust? if I may ask. Whoever or whatever it is, may I also ask how much do you trust it and what power is resident in that which you trust in?
Trust establishes a bond. Is your bond reliable? is it absolutely dependable? Is it perfect?
I have pondered over the above questions and have come to realise that Trust is and should be reserved for God
I have also come to realise that most people trust in man, trust in their human connections, trust in their wealth and all sorts of things. The truth is, Man and all his creation(what man has created) deserves benefit of the doubt NOT Trust.
'Benefit of the doubt' is a concession that a person or fact must be regarded as correct if the contrary has not been proven.
At the surface, this might look like trust, but don't be mistaken, it is not.
Trust is Sacrosanct, it does not have to prove itself. And only God is is the one who does not have to prove Himself to anybody.
This does not mean that you have to live with cynicism & suspision about people and things, no, that is not what I am saying. You have to deal with people beleiveing that they are who & what they say they are, unless something comes up or you discover something to the contrary, at that point, you acknowledge it and move on, no hurt feelings, because you understand that, no one is perfect, only God is. That is what I mean by giving man or things abenefit of doubt. it is a very healthy attitude.
You will also, I believe, appreciate that; only something infallible is worthy of your trust. Trusting any other thing is inadvertently setting yourself up for heartbreak and big time disappointment and the last time I checked, only God is and still remains Infallible.
The reason I believe man is not worthy of trust has nothing to do with man per say but has everything to do with man's nature. Man's nature is a fallen one and as for long as he operates on this earth, that nature lives with him and mans fallen nature is not worthy of trust, it changes with time and is very unpredictable.
Against his better judgement, man will find himself drawn by the senses or the flesh to do some things contrary to God's will for him/her, and if God does not supply him with the grace and mercy, man will go on, and on, in this hopeless state to doom.
Over the course of many years, I have seen people who have been really disappointed, people who have lost hope for living and just live with a sense of hopelessness all around them, all because their trust in somebody or something has been broken or abused. Some of them have gone mental, it is a sad reality, but there you go.
Had they but only given a benefit of the doubt in the first place, the disappointment would not have such a devastating effect because they would understand that man's nature is not stable and is prone to falling short of the mark.
Here is a wise saying I heard sometime ago: "Time tests the truth in everything" So, let time prove you right everytime- TRUST God and give any other thing benefit of doubt.
Though God has instructed us to forgive one another, you will agree with me that it is much easier to forgive somebody you have given a benefit of the doubt and has let you down than sombody you have trusted and has abused your trust.
God is clearly the only one who is worthy of our trust. Scripture and our day to day experiences of God and man point to this fact.
In scripture, lots of accounts are written of those who trusted in God and those who chose not to.
Infact I have not come across any where in the bible where God categorically says that you should trust in man, quite the contrary; He says that "Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord" Jeremiah 17:5.
What I have come to realise is that; people use the word Trust quite loosely. When you truly understand what trust is; you will be inundated to reserve it only for God. Check your bible and see where God has ever said in His word that you should trust man, no where.
He emphasises that we should love one another and moreover that is a commandment not a suggestion, but never has He ever said that we should trust in man, not even trust yourself(You can not save yourself, only God can).
No wonder there is a lot of bitterness, rage, hatred, anger, broken hearts, malice even among the body of Christ because we have trusted man & ourselves to our own peril. What a shame! Obey what God says in His word, TRUST is reserved for God. And it is for your own good.
Those who consistently trusted in God were greatly rewarded and those who did not, did it at their own peril. We are also admonished through out scripture to put our trust in God.
Here are some scriptures to help you appreciate this fact further: 1Chronicles 5:20, Job 13:15, Psalm 4:5; 37:3-5; 37:40; 40:4; 55:23; 62:8; 71:5; 118:8; 119:42; 125:1
Proverbs 3:5; 22:19; 29:25, Isaiah 26:4, Jeremiah 7:4, Micah 7:5-8, Mark 10:24, 2Corinthians 1:9, Philippians 3:4
Trust and believe go 'hand in hand' We believe because we have heard and seen. Unless we have heard and seen from God it is not worth believing anything. This therefore calls for our utmost attention to the voice and ways of God because He is always saying and doing something! yes ALWAYS! No doubt. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
Once God says something, it is settled from that moment, its a done deal, you only have to receive it.
And receivership is an art in itself, you only receive that which you have accepted and agreed to, otherwise, it will elude you.
Absolute trust in God builds your faith to rock solid level, and that is not a place you just arrive at. It takes initiative, courage, fortitude, death to self(Complete surrender to God). The good news is that, He has given you all things pertaining to life and godliness, your only duty is to choose life and that is simply done by putting your trust in Him!
Do your utmost best to increase in the knowledge of God - Colosians 1:10. and constantly be transformed by the renewing of your mind - Romans 12:2
For knowledge of God builds and increases/deepens your understanding and subsequently your trust in Him
*IN GOD I TRUST*
Things come and go, people come and go, God has always been there and will always be there, you can safely count on Him, He has promised never to leave you nor forsake you. Jesus is the same yesterday, Today and Forever.
"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man" Ecclesiastes 12:13. And how can you fear Him and keep His commandments if you don't Trust Him?
Till next time, let us keep on keeping on - Trusting in God!
Peace & Love
Libs
