Trust goes to the core of human relationships. In whom and what we trust is a measure of our inner circle of friends as much as it is a measure of our very hearts. Trust makes us vulnerable to those around us and mistrust hardens our hearts to our neighbors. However, most often it is not even a question of trusting others or not trusting others. Rather it is question of do we trust ourselves, our own accomplishments, more than we trust God? In whom and what we trust ultimately comes to bear on that one and all-important question: Will I depend on God?
I. Trust in what?
- Status, power, wealth, accolades—Pharisee
- Looking sideways—comparing ourselves to other’s rather than to God’s character
- Looking to the affirmation of other’s rather than God’s
II. Battle of the will and of our actions:
Pride preaches merit
Humility pleads for compassion
Pride negotiates as an equal
Humility approaches in need
Pride separates by putting down others
Humility identifies with others
Pride destroys through its alienating self-service
Humility opens doors with its power to sympathize with the struggle we share
Pride turns up its nose
Humility offers an open and lifted-up hand– (Darrell Bock, 1996)
III. Application
- Dependence vs. independence: Do I walk clinging to my heavenly Father’s hand? Do I walk where He leads?
- Do the things I trust in (self, money, status, accomplishments, family, friends) get in the way of my dependence on God?
October 17, 2010, The Way Christian Fellowship, Dcn. Kirsten Gardner, Teaching Pastor.