THE LAW OF TRUST
Matthew 27:41-43
Trust means to believe that someone is good and honest and will not harm you, or that something is safe and reliable. If you trust in someone, you believe that they are honest and sincere and will not deliberately do anything to harm you. To trust is to believe in the reliability or strength of something. So, when it comes to trusting God, it means believing in His reliability, His word, His ability and His strength. The Bible says that God cannot lie; that He always keeps His promises. (Numbers 23:19). The scriptures enjoin us severally to put our trust in the Lord. This is because God had proved over and over again that He is trustworthy. Yes. He is worthy of our trust. His words are dependable. He says what he means and means what he says. His words have inbuilt mechanism to perform what he promises.
For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isaiah 55:8-11
Learning to build up trust in different spheres of life is very critical. Trust is needed in the home, work place, ministry, community, etc. Trust is a critical part of all interactions that we have as humans. How long would you be the client of an accountant or lawyer if you didn’t trust that they have your best interest at heart? How long would you stay in a relationship or maintain a friendship with someone you don’t trust?
But figuring how to trust someone may not be as important as being trustworthy yourself. Unfortunately, the statistics show that people trust each other less today than fifty years ago. At an individual level, you need to have mutual trust with your wife, family members and friends. The same is true in the work place. You need to have a sense of trust built up with your co-workers. Learning how to trust is something we are expected to develop as we grow up. Various ways we can build up trust include: value long-term relationships, be honest, honour commitments, admit when you are wrong, communicate effectively, be vulnerable, be helpful, show people that you care, stand up for what’s right and be transparent.
It is said that trust arrives trekking but when it departs, it is on horseback. This means that while it takes time to build up trust, it can vanish in a moment. Consider a marriage relationship; you trust yourself over the years. And in a moment of indiscretion, you do something to puncture that trust. It will vanish in a twinkle of an eye. It may not be built again. There will always be that doubt deep within your spouse. Will he/she do it again? Is my life safe with him/her? When people trust you, continue to be trustworthy. Don’t betray the trust. Once you do, you can’t regain their trust again.
MEDITATION: Trust arrives crawling and disappears with the wind
