Ps 20:7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. (ESV)
In biblical times, chariots were a sign of strength. The more in number you possessed, the mightier was your threat. Chariots would be gathered from the losing side of battle and often the description of an army would be by numbers of chariots and horses. Some learned to place their trust for victory in these numbers, while others knew their success was dependent on God. Spurgeon says, “The most dreaded war engine of David's day was the war chariot, armed with scythes, which mowed down men like grass: this was the boast and glory of the neighboring nations; but the saints considered the name of Jehovah to be a far better defense.”
Consider. The honesty and reliability of others and things compared with the absolute truth of God who is infallible and omnipresent.
Several months ago I began thinking about the significance of where we place our trust and the result of misplaced trust. I jotted down some thoughts when I was spurred on by a conversation that I will describe further down this page. I finally sat down to look at the notes I had written earlier and began studying some application of scripture related to this subject. Excited to continue my study this morning, I turned on my computer, opened my Bible program and alas, it had been totally reconfigured, through an automatic update. The translations of the Word I use most were missing! KJV, NIV, NASB all disappeared and were not even in the list of options to pull up! If you’ve read my profile page or know me at all, you know that I am challenged by the world of electronics and information technology and the fact that I even write this blog is a small miracle in itself.
Even when we’ve completely trusted in Jesus for salvation through His death and resurrection, and perhaps consider ourselves a ‘seasoned’ believer, it is still easy for us to place trust in other things. It’s not bad to trust that appliances will function or children or husbands will come home from school and business. We depend on people and things to work according to our plans. But how do we respond when the expected doesn’t happen? Albeit, my computer not working properly is an easier illustration than the loss of trust in personal relationships. The annoyance I feel when things don’t work ‘as they’re supposed to’ causes me to sit back, take a deep breath, calm down and consider the realization that there is truly only One I can absolutely depend on always – God.
(As you have probably figured out by now, I did discover what was wrong with my computer, for the record, by myself! and happily I am back up and typing on my keyboard with my original preferences on my Bible program. Thank you Lord!)
We’ll look at the placement of our trust. We all trust in something or someone. It’s where we place our trust that will significantly alter our responses and future security.
Placement. The act of putting something in a certain place.
We learn placement early. Toys get put away where they belong. Clothes are folded or hung and placed in a dresser or basket or closet. Shoes have a place, some by a door used to enter the house, others in a specified location in a bedroom. A kitchen table belongs in a kitchen. Position of utensils in a plate setting are specific when done according to proper etiquette: forks on the left in order of use. Typically, we feel good when things are in the ‘right’ place.
But, in the real world, at least in mine, stuff is not always where it belongs. We get busy. I don’t always take the time to put things in their place. Its okay for a bit, but it can get out of hand. Like in the garage…. or in a closet….don’t even get me started about the ‘junk drawer’. I’m not inviting you to take a look, just trust me!! (Pun intended.) It’s not the ‘end of the world’ when things are not exactly in place. (Although, if you have the tendencies of OCD it feels like it). We still function. No tears need to be shed. However, there is one area where placement matters big time.
‘Listen’ to this recent conversation I had with someone I haven’t seen in a while. (Me) Hi, how are you? Fine. Haven’t seen you at Bible study. We’re fine. We’ve missed you at church. We’re fine. Should I be concerned? We’re fine. Are you going to church somewhere else? Are you in fellowship with others? No. We’re fine. How can I pray for you? We’re fine.
This conversation caused my heart to cry. After a bit more prodding, hoping I could encourage and feeling genuinely concerned, I found out they had been hurt by words shared from others. No details, which I don’t need, but obviously the hearts of this sweet family were hurt to the core and their faith in those they trusted was damaged.
Unfortunately, this happens. It shouldn’t. In a perfect world, it wouldn’t. But we are sinful and people get hurt by others. Words are shared carelessly. Offense is taken personally. When our faith is put in people, it is harder to forgive and bounce back. Then, we punish ourselves. We pull out. We don’t want to be hurt. We stay away. Sometimes we even retaliate. We answer sin with sin. We say we’re fine. But are we? What happened to our placement of faith? Was our faith in God or in our expectation of people?
Faith in humankind always disappoints. People are weak, sinful, and have poor judgment. They are selfish, proud and hurtful towards others, sometimes its purposeful, many times it’s just a matter of thoughtlessness.
When our faith is placed in God alone it always has perfect results. It doesn’t mean we won’t get hurt but it does mean we’re more likely to recover with a perspective that will challenge us to forgive and move on, to continue to serve and take part in fellowship, and to trust in God’s ultimate will for ourselves and others. It is God we serve. It may be through people, and at times it may be super difficult, but it is God we are serving, living for, trying to please. Often, we can give others more credentials than we ought.
Consider. We all place faith in something or someone.
Dreams, plans, friends, family, marriage, home, success, health, education, government, yourself, your computer programs (hahaha). This list could continue with many more things or persons. Do we have an absolute promise that any of the above listed will perform as expected?
Dreams seldom come true. Plans rarely turn out exactly the way you expect. Friends, no matter how close, can unintentionally hurt. Family is counted on and should be there for you, but not in every case. Marriages fail. Homes flood, burn down, break down and generally have something needing to be fixed. Success is fleeting. Health is unpredictable. Education is momentary. Self is downright scary!! Technology is finicky. But God is the source of all that is True. He will never fail us and is predictable according to His character. God is always just, always honest, always loving (even if it doesn’t always feel like it when we are being disciplined), always available, always understands – even better than we do.
Placement of our faith in anything except the one true living God won’t carry you to the finish line of peace and hope now and in the future. Sure, we might do well for a time, we may be able to stumble along and look like we’re moving forward or doing just fine, but we’ve taken on a prison sentence we don’t need to carry. We become trapped because we’ve placed our faith in everything uncertain. We punish ourselves when others let us down by choosing to disassociate with those who truly do care about us. We miss the joy of living for Christ because we’re derailed by disappointment.
Placement of our faith in others to act or respond a certain way will most certainly cause despair. Consider. Have you always said and done everything appropriately? Has every circumstance panned out the way you thought it should? Of course not! When our entire cause for existence is placed in God, we are not so readily sidetracked by things or others’ actions or comments or judgment. God is the only one that truly matters. When we embrace this, we are able to forge ahead with the security of complete trust placed in Him alone Who never fails or disappoints.
Is God our object of trust? How do we know? Think of your responses to unpleasant things that happen and towards people who may be less than understanding. Do you try to look through the eyes of God’s grace or do you quit? Do you keep moving forward or do you run and hide? Do you embrace your anger and let it grow?
The placement of our trust should be in God’s strength.
Isa 26:4 "Trust in the LORD forever, for in GOD the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock.
The placement of our trust should be in His continuous care for us.
Ps 9:10 And those who know Thy name will put their trust in Thee; for Thou, O LORD, hast not forsaken those who seek Thee.
The placement of our trust should be in God completely.
Pr 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
The placement of our trust should be in the God who knows us personally.
Ps 31:14 But as for me, I trust in Thee, O LORD, I say, "Thou art my God."
The placement of our trust should be in His word.
Ps 119:42 So I shall have an answer for him who reproaches me, for I trust in Thy word.
The placement of our trust should be in God’s mercy.
Ps 13:5 But I have trusted in Thy lovingkindness; my heart shall rejoice in Thy salvation.
God is the only one we are able to place our trust in for eternity.
Ps 52:8 But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the lovingkindness of God forever and ever.
The trust we place in God is not just a hopeful trust that things will probably work out okay, but it is a confident, certain trust born through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ.
Joh 10:9 "I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
Eph 3:12 [Christ] in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.
Heb 4:16 Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.
2Co 3:4 And such confidence we have through Christ toward God.
The placement of our trust should be in God at all times.
Ps 62:8 Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah.
God says it is better to place our trust in Him than anyone or anything else.
Ps 118:8-9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.
Jer 17:5 Thus says the LORD, "Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away from the LORD.
Pr 28:26 He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks wisely will be delivered.
So, back to the beginning of this study, its development, and the conversation I had. Misplaced trust causes us to act in a manner that is outside of God’s will. We can become annoyed easily. We can let hurt become anger. We can desire to quit instead of forging ahead. We can hold resentment in our heart instead of living free in Christ. The reality is, we punish ourselves when complete trust is not properly placed in the only One who deserves and requires our full confidence and faith.
Either our trust is placed and settled securely in God for all things
OR
It is placed precariously on top of an unsteady pile of persons and things that may topple over at any minute.
Isa 31:1 Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, [And] rely on horses, and trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the LORD!
Pr 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
