“This is what the Lord says: Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord.” Jeremiah 17:5
“In God I trust and am not afraid. What can man do to me?” Psalm 56:11
Today I spoke with a gentleman who I had met yesterday for the first time. He reported that a simple truth had occurred to him, and he shared it with me as a possible devotional topic.
A popular television show, Who Do You Trust, aired on ABC television from the mid-50s through the early 60s. The primary host was Johnny Carson with Ed McMahon being the announcer, prior to them occupying the same positions on the Tonight Show. Three couples–usually husbands and wives–competed in answering questions, and the trust portion related to whether the man or the woman would be trusted to do so. Real life is a little like such a game show.
No where does the Bible state that we are to trust our fellow man. Instead, we’re supposed to trust God. However, we invariably do exactly the opposite. We trust people, and people frequently let us down. How do we usually respond when things don’t work out as we had planned or hoped? Oftentimes we blame God. He is the solution and not the cause of our problems.
Here’s another angle to consider. Occasionally I put my trust in the man who looks back at me in the mirror. As an independent sort of guy, in too many instances I have relied on my own intellect, finances, abilities, perseverance, connections, etc. Disappointments have occurred when the man I trusted failed to deliver.
Think about yourself. When push comes to shove, who do you trust?
Prayer: Dear God, help us to depend more on You. Open our eyes to trust in You always. Your ways are far better than our ways. You will not misdirect our efforts. May we keep our hearts focused on You. Amen