On a regular basis, a study is performed on American residents about “consumer confidence.” This study is actually a poll indicating the level of excitement that Americans have about the future of the economy. Economists believe that “consumer confidence” gives them an idea about economic forecasting based on expected consumer spending.
Confidence can be a strange thing. One day, consumer confidence may be high and the next day it may be low. Typically this confidence is based upon external things: what a consumer thinks (such as the future of his own job) and what he hears (gossip). Consumer confidence is not necessarily based upon facts but feelings.
In life, the confidence we have can be just as fickle. Feelings, rather than facts, often affect our attitude and actions. It is easy to trust in the things you see and hear. It is another thing to have discernment whether these matters are true or not.
The psalmist gives us great advice when he wrote, “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.” While many of us agree with this advice, do we really practice it? I find that people place too much confidence in politicians and preachers. Others trust too much in musicians, actors or athletes. Despite the excellent advice from the psalmist, we tend to trust in men far too much. We are easily hurt or devastated when men let us down. It is wrong to expect a man to do what only God can do.
It is easy to say, “I trust in the Lord,” but it is another thing to demonstrate that trust by your daily life. While some claim to trust Him for their salvation, they tend to be trusting in their own good works to achieve or maintain salvation. Others profess to trust the Lord but seem to rely upon their own efforts to get them through trials.
The Bible says, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding.” This verse should be memorized by everyone, but the challenge comes in living it out. God does not expect us to quit thinking, but we are trust Him rather than our thoughts or thinking process. Despite our best plans and schemes, we tend to utterly fail unless God intervenes.
Trust is an important aspect of any relationship. Without trust, a relationship is weak. Our spiritual maturity is not necessarily gauged by the degree of our Biblical knowledge, but by the degree of our obedience to the Word. It is possible to understand deep doctrine but be very weak in your walk with God. You may be able to quote Scripture with great eloquence, but struggle to trust God on a daily basis.
Trust is more than just believing about God. Some claim to believe in a “higher power,” but we know this is not Biblical trust. Trust is believing God, taking Him at His Word and living according to that Word. The real acid test of trust comes in the area of obedience. Do we trust Him enough to obey Him?
Trust that leads to obedience is rare these days. Obedience may lead us into uncharted waters. Obedience may be costly and unpopular. Are you willing to risk your comfort and reputation to obey God? Obedience to God, in spite of all the opposition, is the result of genuine trust.
Far too many of us like to have a reputation of being a Christian, but we are uncomfortable to be so devout that we are considered weird or a Jesus freak. Perhaps we love our image more than we trust the Lord.
One of the temptations we face is this: what if I obey God … and fail? I think this concern hinders us more than we'd like to admit. To fail before your peers, family and skeptics would be embarrassing. The humiliation would seem to undermine our outspoken faith. But if we obey God, wouldn't the pressure of performance be His instead of ours? When we trust the Lord, it is our job to obey and His job to make a way. If He chooses for us to fail, perhaps it is a lesson of humility that we truly need. When we trust the Lord, we are less concerned about our reputation before men and more determined to please our Lord --- regardless of the consequences.
Does this make you feel uneasy? Perhaps all of us have more growing to do in this area. God wants our focus to be on Him alone. Trust Him alone. Obey Him explicitly. Love Him supremely.
If we are trusting Him to take us to heaven when we die, can't we trust Him to provide for us daily? Can't we trust Him to meet our needs? Can't we rely on Him to make a way when we obey Him?
Trust
and obey, for there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
but to trust and obey.
What are you trusting in?
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