Where do you put your trust

Many people hesitate to put their trust in God. But they put their trust in mortal man and material things. Only at the end do they realize their folly. As believers we are called to trust God and put our confidence completely on Him. The incident that happened in the life of the friends of Daniel is a fitting example of trusting God completely when we pass through testing and trials. King Nebuchadnezzar erected an image of gold and commanded all the people to fall down and worship the golden image. But Shadrach, Meshach and Abed Nego refused to worship the image. They trusted God for deliverance.When the king called them before him and ordered them to worship the idol, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, ‘ONebuchadnezzar we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is thecase, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fieryfurnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it beknown to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worshipthe gold image which you have set up'” (Dan. 3:16-18). God honored theirfaith and trust in Him by protecting them in the fiery furnace. Even today God is faithful and trustworthy.

In the Bible, we are called to put our trust in the Lord and not on man or material things.

1)Trusting God and His Word

1. Trust in God: “In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?” Ps. 56:4.
2. Trust in the Lord: “Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.” Ps. 37:3,5.
3. Trust in God’s name: “For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name.” Ps. 33:2l.
4. Trust in God’s Word: “So shall I have an answer for him who reproaches me, for I trust in Your word. ” Ps. 1l9:42.
5. Trust in Christ: “Behold, My Servant whom I have chosen, … A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench, till He sends forth justice to victory. And in His name Gentiles will trust” Matt. 12: 18-21.

2)Putting Trust On Others:

1. Do not trust in Weapons: “For I will not trust in my bow, nor shall my sword save me.” Ps. 44: 6.
2. Do not trust in Wealth: “Those who trust in their wealth and boast in the multitude of their riches, none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him.” Ps. 49:6,7.
3. Do not trust in Princes (influential leader): “Do not put your trust in princes, norin a son of man in whom there is no help.” Ps. 146:3.
4. Do not trust in Friend: “Do not trust in a friend; do not put your confidence in acompanion.” Micah 7:5.
5. Do not trust in Man: “Thus says the Lord: ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in manand makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord. ‘” Jer. 17:5.

(Dr. C Barnabas, Translated from True Discipleship February 1997)