Where Do You Put Your Trust?

Last week we talked about how we, as Christians, should rely on God to meet our deepest needs rather than relying on anything else—including our spouse. When we look to get our needs met by the world, three main problems are created:

We’ll always be disappointed with the results, no matter how well things may go.
We’ll lack the inner resources to love others the way we should, and the resources to confront life successfully.
We’ll eventually be hurt and offended by the one in whom we’ve invested all our trust.

When these problems come to light, we can be disappointed or frustrated. These emotions are negative, but can be manageable. Or we can become outwardly angry—and that response isn’t just negative, but destructive.

The Bible warns that trusting in anything but God is a trap. Proverbs 28:26 says, “He who trusts in his own heart is a fool.” Jeremiah warns: “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength” (Jer. 17:5).

Compare those warnings with the promises made to those who trust God. In the same passage from Jeremiah, the prophet writes, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord.” (Jer. 17:7-8).

The Psalmist notes, “Those who trust in the Lord are as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever” (Psalm 125:1).

And the Proverbs say, “He who trusts in the Lord will be exalted” (Proverbs 29:25).

The contrasts are unmistakable between relying on people or things to meet our deepest needs rather than God.

When you place your trust in the wrong source:

Your security depends on someone or something you can’t predict or control, and whose resources are limited when it comes to meeting your needs.
Your ability to give depends on your ability to receive from others.
Your life is marked by disappointment and frustration.
Your unrealistic expectations of others creates tension in your relationships, and can actually drive people away from you.

But when you put your trust in God, your inner security and strength are dependent upon Someone who is faithful:

Your ability to give flows from the Holy Spirit, an always available and completely unlimited resource.
You can love generously even if others don’t return your love.
Your life will be filled with blessing, satisfaction, and optimism.
Your realistic expectations of others will draw you closer to them as you love and give to them of yourself.

The results are clear. Relying on God to meet your deepest needs is always better than trusting in your spouse, your career, or your possessions. We can avoid negative results like disappointment, frustration, and emotion, and open ourselves up to blessing, generosity and love.

Where do you put your trust?