On Sunday, I taught one of the counterintuitive truths on trust. Here it is: If you are trusting God, there are some people you shouldn't trust. God's Word gives us trustworthiness tests so that we know who to trust with what. If we trust the wrong people, trouble is soon to follow.
Read it for yourself in Proverbs 25:19 19 Like a broken tooth or a lame foot is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble. What a word picture! Trusting the unfaithful brings life-altering pain and difficulties. That's why I recommend five tests for trustworthiness.
Know this: even when you can't trust others, you can trust God. That's why Proverbs 18:8 teaches 8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans. People can hurt us with their words, actions, and motives. God's words, actions, and motives are always for our good. So trust Him with everything you've got even it it means you put up guardrails with others.
Read it for yourself in Proverbs 25:19 19 Like a broken tooth or a lame foot is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble. What a word picture! Trusting the unfaithful brings life-altering pain and difficulties. That's why I recommend five tests for trustworthiness.
- Test what they do with your words. How they treat your words is a sign of how they will treat you. If they twist your words, try to manipulate your thoughts, or turn your words against you, be on guard.
- Listen to what they say with their mouth. The Bible warns against a destructive communication pattern consistently. The pattern: gossip. Gossip is when you talk about someone with the intent to hurt or divide and it is a real problem and a symptom of other heart level issues. Read it in Proverbs 16:28 28 A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends. Watch how people talk to you about others because it is a test of how they will talk about you!
- Pay attention to what is happening in their heart. If others are motivated by a love for themselves, be careful. If their heart is full of themselves, they may never give you the love and support you need. Extreme cases of this are known as narcissism, but even if love for self doesn't reach the level of psychological issues, guard your heart against those who are so in love with themselves that they will never consider your needs.
- See what happens when they don't get what they want. Untrustworthy people get angry in damaging ways when they don't get what they want. James teaches us that anger issues are driven by unmet expectations. But, in life, it's impossible for others to meet all of our expectations all of the time. So, what happens when this happens? If they become angry, don't allow them to draw you in. Don't allow their issues to become your issues.
- Watch what they do when you need help. The Bible teaches, in Proverbs 18:24, that unreliable friends are nowhere to be found when trouble strikes, but there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. That friend who sticks with us no matter what is Jesus. He is always with us and always near us in our times of need. That's why we put our trust in Him even when we can't trust others. When others turn heal and run when you have needs, draw near to Jesus who is near to you!
Know this: even when you can't trust others, you can trust God. That's why Proverbs 18:8 teaches 8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans. People can hurt us with their words, actions, and motives. God's words, actions, and motives are always for our good. So trust Him with everything you've got even it it means you put up guardrails with others.