No One to Trust
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."
-Proverbs 3:5-6
"If I have made gold my hope, or said to fine gold. 'You are my confidence'; If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because my hand had gained much; If I have observed the sun when it shines or the moon moving in brightness, so that my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand; This also would be an iniquity deserving of judgment, For I would have denied God who is above."
-Job 34:21-28
Trust. Idols. These two words seem to be spinning around in my mind this week. Examples of loss of trust, who we can and can't trust, what we trust when we shouldn't. So many examples...
When watching the 'Today' show this morning, I saw part of the interview with Brian Williams. When watching news, we assume we can trust what we hear, although we should know better by now. We still do it though, don't we? Swallow hook, line, and sinker what they tell us is true as they sit behind those desks and in front of those cameras. Has to be true.....it's on the news. And yet, in this instance and in many others, we know the truth is not always a priority. I found it interesting when Mr. Williams was pressed by Matt Lauer. He used words like ego, mistaken memories, holding responsibility, etc. , but he would not use or acknowledge the word LIE in regard to what he did. And yet 'lie' accurately describes his actions. At any rate, the network obviously understands the public has lost their trust in Mr. Williams. Probably should not have had it in the first place.
I am also experiencing a personal loss of trust this week. An agreement we have had for years was suddenly broken, causing us financial loss and tremendous stress. We trusted these people to abide by their word, to follow through with what they had promised. Yet, at the last minute, they withdrew their promise, leaving us holding the bag....regretting our trust in the whole situation.
Many years ago, it seems trust was a bit easier to come by. A handshake signified an agreement between two people who trusted each other to fulfill their end of the bargain. Even in business, the word of the other guy was sufficient. Today, big business, experience with dishonesty, and the attitude of being out for only yourself has destroyed our ability to trust. Trust is now found in the dollar.
I confess, my lesson with trusting others probably also has to do with the 'things' I trust. I like to think I don't trust in superficial things, but I was pretty well trusting in this money I was expecting this summer. I trust in my retirement system to send my check each month. I trust in my bank to hold on to my money for me. I trust my doctor to keep me healthy. I trust my 'stuff' will all work as it should....my car, computer, phone, washing machine, etc. The fact remains, though, that cars break down, computers freeze up, phones die, washing machines sputter, and we get sick.
Imagine living in the late 20's, early 30's. Can you imagine waking up one day with all of your financial security gone? I can't even go there. What would I do? Where would I turn? How would I survive? And yet the people of that generation trudged on, and most survived.
The scripture above from Job is part of his expression in response to all of the trials he faced. But the words he speaks in regard to the love of money is really speaking to me right now. What do I REALLY trust? In my head, I think I trust God and not my "stuff".....but do I really? When Proverbs 3 says 'trust....and lean not on your own understanding', that's exactly what it means. I don't understand why people lie. I don't understand why agreements are broken at the last minute. I don't understand having to re-do things that were supposed to be fixed already.
The truth is, we can't trust anything or anyone completely. There is only One we can trust with everything in us. He tells us time and time again, in the Manual for life He sent us:
"And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear or be dismayed."
-Deuteronomy 31:8
"Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation."
- Isaiah 12:2
"And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You , Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You."
- Psalm 9:10
There are so many more verses that point in Whom we should place our trust. Verses that show us He will remain with us through it all.....disappointment, financial loss, anything. When we walk with Him, He proves His trustworthiness over and over. We DO have someone to trust......and He will NEVER betray that.
-Proverbs 3:5-6
"If I have made gold my hope, or said to fine gold. 'You are my confidence'; If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because my hand had gained much; If I have observed the sun when it shines or the moon moving in brightness, so that my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand; This also would be an iniquity deserving of judgment, For I would have denied God who is above."
-Job 34:21-28
Trust. Idols. These two words seem to be spinning around in my mind this week. Examples of loss of trust, who we can and can't trust, what we trust when we shouldn't. So many examples...
When watching the 'Today' show this morning, I saw part of the interview with Brian Williams. When watching news, we assume we can trust what we hear, although we should know better by now. We still do it though, don't we? Swallow hook, line, and sinker what they tell us is true as they sit behind those desks and in front of those cameras. Has to be true.....it's on the news. And yet, in this instance and in many others, we know the truth is not always a priority. I found it interesting when Mr. Williams was pressed by Matt Lauer. He used words like ego, mistaken memories, holding responsibility, etc. , but he would not use or acknowledge the word LIE in regard to what he did. And yet 'lie' accurately describes his actions. At any rate, the network obviously understands the public has lost their trust in Mr. Williams. Probably should not have had it in the first place.
I am also experiencing a personal loss of trust this week. An agreement we have had for years was suddenly broken, causing us financial loss and tremendous stress. We trusted these people to abide by their word, to follow through with what they had promised. Yet, at the last minute, they withdrew their promise, leaving us holding the bag....regretting our trust in the whole situation.
Many years ago, it seems trust was a bit easier to come by. A handshake signified an agreement between two people who trusted each other to fulfill their end of the bargain. Even in business, the word of the other guy was sufficient. Today, big business, experience with dishonesty, and the attitude of being out for only yourself has destroyed our ability to trust. Trust is now found in the dollar.
I confess, my lesson with trusting others probably also has to do with the 'things' I trust. I like to think I don't trust in superficial things, but I was pretty well trusting in this money I was expecting this summer. I trust in my retirement system to send my check each month. I trust in my bank to hold on to my money for me. I trust my doctor to keep me healthy. I trust my 'stuff' will all work as it should....my car, computer, phone, washing machine, etc. The fact remains, though, that cars break down, computers freeze up, phones die, washing machines sputter, and we get sick.
Imagine living in the late 20's, early 30's. Can you imagine waking up one day with all of your financial security gone? I can't even go there. What would I do? Where would I turn? How would I survive? And yet the people of that generation trudged on, and most survived.
The scripture above from Job is part of his expression in response to all of the trials he faced. But the words he speaks in regard to the love of money is really speaking to me right now. What do I REALLY trust? In my head, I think I trust God and not my "stuff".....but do I really? When Proverbs 3 says 'trust....and lean not on your own understanding', that's exactly what it means. I don't understand why people lie. I don't understand why agreements are broken at the last minute. I don't understand having to re-do things that were supposed to be fixed already.
The truth is, we can't trust anything or anyone completely. There is only One we can trust with everything in us. He tells us time and time again, in the Manual for life He sent us:
"And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear or be dismayed."
-Deuteronomy 31:8
"Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation."
- Isaiah 12:2
"And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You , Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You."
- Psalm 9:10
There are so many more verses that point in Whom we should place our trust. Verses that show us He will remain with us through it all.....disappointment, financial loss, anything. When we walk with Him, He proves His trustworthiness over and over. We DO have someone to trust......and He will NEVER betray that.
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