By Chris WittsTuesday 25 Oct 2022Morning Devotions with Chris WittsFaithReading Time: 1 minute
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Transcript:
It was the 19th century poet George MacDonald, who famously said, “To be trusted is a greater compliment than being loved. Now I think this is a fabulous statement that is worth thinking about.
“To be trusted is a greater compliment than being loved.” Other people agree. They take it one step further by saying there is no love without trust, and I think many would agree with those sentiments. Though we may not fully understand how they work, we somehow know how it feels to trust and to be trusted.
What is trust anyway? Feeling safe, peaceful, leaving questions and control behind. It’s something you can’t buy. It has all the good answers. Now, the word ‘trust’ itself comes from an old word, which means solid and lasting at each election. We hope for better things, but I am afraid politicians do mislead us and often don’t follow through on the promises made.
So if you can’t trust those in charge, who can you trust? From government to business, media and banks? No wonder trust in institutions is it at an all-time low? If I say I trust you, it means I’m confident that you’re dependable, reliable, honest.
You’re not out to hurt me in day to day living. A certain amount of trust is necessary in relationships. You catch a bus to work each morning, and you trust that driver will get you there safely. Stephen Covey wrote the bestseller ‘The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People’, and this is what he said, – “Trust is the glue of life. It’s the most essential ingredient and effective communication. It’s the foundational principle that holds all relationships.”
One of the biggest hit songs in Motown history was the Jackson five’s hit in 1970 called “I’ll Be There Whenever you Need me, I’ll be there to protect you with an unselfish love. I respect you. Just call my name and I’ll be there.” They’re great words, in other words, you can trust me.
Remember, trust is built slowly over time, can be lost in seconds by a foolish word or action. And who wants to be known as someone who can’t be trusted, trust and faithfulness or a couple of things that you can’t live without, especially if you want to get along with others? Relationships cannot flourish where trust and loyalty are absent. This word trust is a strong word. Each of us needs somebody in whom we can have trust, especially when it comes to sharing personal information about ourselves. I want to say this morning that we can place our full confidence and trust in God.
During World War two, Coria and her family hid fellow Jews from the Germans in their watchmaker’s shop. There in Holland. Someone betrayed them, and as a result, the whole family suffered in a German concentration camp. All the family perished except Coria. In spite of terrible suffering. She had an incredible faith in God, and she used to say to people “never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”
It’s a wonderful and optimistic thought. Trust and belief is a matter of choice. Let’s not forget that it’s up to you and you can put your trust in the God who has given us life. And he loves us.
In Proverbs 3 in the Old Testament, we’re told to “trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” for God is the only one who is truly worthy of our trust. He has never let down anyone who has put their faith in him. He’s never broken a single promise of the hundreds that he’s made. God is not a disappointment, and you can always trust our Father God. How strange it is that we are far more trusting of people than we are of God. That doesn’t make any sense because our loving God is infinitely more trustworthy than any human. Because nothing is too difficult for him. And the wonderful thing about being trustworthy is that others who are trustworthy will gravitate towards you. And the best part of being trustworthy is that the peace you have within yourself begins to spread to your circle of influence.
Let’s Pray
Heavenly Father, thank you for trust. Thank you that we can trust you and you ask us to be trustworthy people. May we be counted among those who are trustworthy. We ask it in the name of Jesus, our Saviour, amen.