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University church of Christ

Assembly Times

 Sunday

   Bible Classes (9:30)

   AM Worship (10:20)

   PM Worship (6:00 pm)

 Wednesday

   Bible Classes
(7:00 PM)

Location

449 North Gay Street

Auburn, AL 36830
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Can You be Trusted?

by Steve Klein
 

Trust. It is a vital part of every positive human relationship. Think of the problems that come when nations cannot trust each another, or when suspicion and doubt clouds the relationship between parents and children, husbands and wives, citizens and governments, or bosses and employees. How many wars, separations, divorces, revolutions and strikes could be attributed primarily to a lack of trust? Surely we could fill the world's oceans with the tears of bitterness and pain that have streamed from the eyes of people who could not trust each other.

"Well, yes," you say, "Lack of trust ruins a lot of good relationships, but the solution is simple; we should all just decide to trust each other!" Really?  Do you think the United States should just go ahead and trust the governments of Korea and Iran with all the nuclear weapons they want? Should citizens whose government has been oppressive and murderously violent continually trust their government to do the right thing?  Should the boss give the combination of the safe to the employee who has been caught stealing?  I think you see the problem.  Trust is not something that can or should be extended to people who have shown themselves to be unworthy of it. Most of the time there is a reason for a lack of trust.

The Bible shows clearly that those who break trust are responsible for causing the pain and problems that a lack of trust brings. Trust-breakers often want to place the blame on others and seek pity for themselves. But frankly, it is hard to feel sorry for the teenager who complains "My parents don't trust me" after his parents have found drugs in his room, or an unpaid speeding ticket in the mail, or a beer can in the floorboard. Those who have been untrustworthy need to bear their own reproach, face the consequences of their own actions and (if they wish to be accepted by God and trusted again by their fellowmen) repent and take appropriate steps toward rebuilding trust.

Here are some things that those who have broken trust must face up to:

q They've caused pain for others. It hurts to count on someone who can't be counted on! "Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth and a foot out of joint" (Proverbs 25:19).

q They have created their own problems. "The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, But the unfaithful will be caught by their lust'' (Proverbs 11:6). "Good understanding gains favor, But the way of the unfaithful is hard" (Proverbs 13:15). "He who walks with integrity walks securely, But he who perverts his ways will become known" (Proverbs 10:9).

q Their lack of faithfulness and fidelity is disgusting to righteous people. "I look on the faithless with loathing, for they do not obey your word" (Psalm 119:158, NIV).

q People have good reason not to trust them in other areas. Unfaithfulness in one area indicates a tendency to be unfaithful in other areas.  In Luke 16:10, Jesus said, "He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much" (see also Jeremiah 9:1-5).

q They must commit themselves to rebuilding trust by making full confession of their unfaithfulness, seeking forgiveness and changing their behavior. Rebuilding trust takes a lot of effort on the part of the one who has been unfaithful. When one who has behaved in an untrustworthy way attempts to hide part or all of what he has done, or  minimizes it in any way, it becomes very difficult to renew trust.  Look at what God instructed Israel to do to rebuild their relationship with Him after they had been unfaithful. "But if they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers, with their unfaithfulness in which they were unfaithful to Me, and that they also have walked contrary to Me . . . if their uncircumcised hearts are humbled, and they accept their guilt; {42} then I will remember My covenant with Jacob, and My covenant with Isaac and My covenant with Abraham I will remember; I will remember the land" (Leviticus 26:40-42). The restoration of Israel to a good relationship with God depended on her willingness to humbly acknowledge her guilt.

Trust is such a precious thing. If you have it in the vital relationships of your life, do everything you can to maintain it. Be faithful. Be true. Be honest. If you've been unfaithful, untrue, or dishonest, do all within your power to restore the trust. You'll be glad you did. 

Other Articles by Steve Klein
Legalism - the UnSin
Hairpin Curves
Winning Last Place

 

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