YBible Thoughts Y

November 1, 1998

The Psalmist has expressed a principle that is true for all ages of mankind. From the Patriarch through Moses until the present, trust and confidence in men and their ways has always been on shaky ground. In fact, in too many cases, the person will disappoint the trustful soul. Not that the individual intended to do so; the weakness of the flesh takes over and leads men in a direction that disappoints those who put trust in them.

Is there anyone who has not at times been disappointed in the actions and behavior of others? Such disappointments have been experienced by all. Not that we should fail to trust people, but we need to understand the human side of mankind. While it may be a minor affair, it puts one in a position that some trust is eroded. And yet, the same person who trusted another will have, on occasion, done something that causes a question concerning the person’s own trustworthiness. It behooves all of us, as humans, to do all in our power to gain the trust of those who are Christians.

We need to also understand that, even when we are disappointed in others, we should not cease to trust in mankind. There will be others who will welcome and gain that trust by their words, their behavior, and their faith. Even those who disappoint in some matters will be able to restore that trust in the future. Never give up on a person too soon because they disappoint you. Look at the whole life of the person and see if they are putting forth the effort to live the life of a disciple and will live in such a way in the future to restore the trust that was being eroded in one’s mind.

Mankind gains the trust of others by setting a proper example, teaching the words of truth, and treating others as one would be treated(Matthew 7:12). The Psalmist was not saying that one should have no trust in others, but that one’s trust is to be placed in God above all else. If men disappoint you, God will not.

And yet, one cannot so trust in men to the point that one does not fully trust in God. Men cannot supply what is needed by mankind. Only God can supply those spiritual needs that will lead one to an eternal home. When one fully trusts in the Lord and His word, whatever disappointments one may see in other humans will not cause that person’s faith to waver.

It is unfortunate, indeed, that some will quit the Lord and His kingdom because some human(all of us are such) disappointed the person. They may have done the person a wrong; they may have wronged someone close to that person; they may have failed to do something that was good for the person; and a myriad of others human errors. Why take it out on the Lord and the Lord’s faithful because some preacher or some other brother said something or taught something that was not in the Word of God? That individual will someday answer to God for that behavior. Why let that person stand between you and your salvation?

When one trusts in the Lord as the Psalmist teaches, however man may treat that person, it is always recognized that ones’ trust is centered in the Almighty, and not in fallible men. Jesus had to stand alone and Paul found that no one took his part at his first defense. The reason righteous men can weather the darts of the evil one is because of their strong faith in the God that created them. Let us never lose sight of “being faithful unto death”(or, even if it means death) as we trust in the Lord and His word. Men may disappoint; God never does!