CENTRAL THOUGHT
Trust in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.
HYMN: WHEN WE WALK WITH THE LORD
TEXT: 1 Timothy 6:17-19,
Galatians 6:14, John 2:15-17
INTRODUCTION
We are constantly at risk of putting our trust in the things and men we see as insurance for the future or security. We may, for example, unconsciously, feel that the more money we have, the more secured our lives would be. Also, some Christians will do ‘all that needs to be done’ to be considered ‘loyal’ by a reigning Vice- Chancellor, Managing Director, political office holder, pastor, bishop, or boss. This is based on the belief that it guarantees their chances of getting promoted early or getting choice appointments, posting, or rewards even if ‘what needs to be done’ doesn’t square up with the teachings of the scripture. Some of us feel like ‘we have made it’ or deserve extra respect when we become top professionals, doctors, administer a large congregation or a province, a bishopric or a ministry. After all, should a man’s life, and the respect he gets, not be measured by the multitude of things he has acquired especially when it is a high position, wealth or knowledge? (Luke 12:15)
The true church of God comprises of men and women who have committed themselves to live in obedience to Christ. The scripture states that “He dies that those who live should live no longer for themselves but for Him who dies for them and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:15). This expectation does not change no matter our age, socio-economic, academic, or religious status. Those committed to Him can expect Him to be faithful to His promise. “For He said I will never leave nor forsake you so we may boldly say THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT FEAR…” (Hebrew 13:5-6). We pray the Lord teaches us what it means to trust Him, expose the traps in trusting a man and incline our hearts to trusting Him always.
LESSON OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this study are:
- To know what it means to trust a man.
- To compare this with trusting God.
- To know why we should trust in God.
BIBLE TRUTH:
Q1. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO TRUST IN MAN?
To trust in man is to put confidence in man primarily for something, to rely or depend on man. In the context of this study, there are two aspects of it. First is putting confidence in who we are or what we have achieved. In the world system, a man is measured by the amount of wealth he possesses, his position or occupation. God hates the world system and warns us that “If anyone loves the world, the love of the father is not in him”. In other words, our Christianity is vain before God. If while we profess His name, follow the dictates of the world system because of what it promises us. When we begin to measure ourselves and put our confidence in what we have or have attained, and not in who we are in Christ, we have fallen into the error of trusting in man. On the other hand, when we start to treat others as though our lives depend on them because of their position or influence, we trust in man. We may then become boot-lickers, sycophants, always trying to impress when the persons are around, praise singers of men and flatterers. The truth is that for a child of God, promotion comes not from the east or the west but from the Lord.
Q2. DISCUSS HOW WE COMMONLY PUT OUR TRUST ON THE FOLLOWING?
A.) Man
Joseph interpreted the dreams of two of Pharaoh’s officials and pleaded with the one with a favorable verdict to remember him as soon as he was restored to his position. We can all appreciate how disappointed he was when he heard stories of the man’s activities from prison who conveniently forgot about him. But when it was God’s ordained time, He created an enabling environment for Joseph to be released, to become prime minister! We often hinge our hopes of getting admissions into institutions of higher learning, getting a contract job, or an appointment on men. Whilst it is not wrong to expect that someone who “should be favorably disposed towards us, would help in our hour of need, we are wrong to rest our hopes on them. In many church ministries, ambitious people and ministers do all kinds of things to influence their recognition and promotion. When we craftily influence our postings, where is the room for God to work out the details of our lives? Are we not them behaving like the “hirelings”, professionals doing work for the sake of money and with no interest in the Master’s reward? When we rely on men for what seems like “progress ministry”, whose call are we really answering? The call of man or God? Craftiness and “being smart” are not fruits of the spirit and are not viewed in less uncomplimentary terms by heaven just because they are prevalent practices or are painted in better colors. The class should give examples of ways people put trust in men or share personal experiences.
B.) Riches and Wealth
The Lord in the parable of the sower warns that the normal cares of this life, the deceitfulness of
riches, and the desire for good things that life offers will choke our Christian lives and make us unfruitful, if we allow them (Mark4:7, 18-19). There is absolutely nothing wrong with being wealthy. In fact, we are promised: “God is able to make all grace abound towards you, that you always having all sufficiency in all things may have an abundance for every good work” (2Cor 9:8). However, the danger is that it is possible to put our trust in our riches and not in God. Paul enjoined Timothy to: “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but IN THE LIVNG GOD who gives us richly all things to enjoy” (1Tim 6:17). We are given reasons why we should not trust in riches. First, they are gifts from God and really do not originate from us if we examine it critically! Secondly, they are only ours for this life and are irrelevant for ages to come unless we use them rightly. Also, they are uncertain, not guaranteed to last, and trusting in them is building castles on sinking sand.
How do people behave when their trust is in riches? They become haughty (proud, arrogant, conceited, lifted in their mind, supercilious).
C.) The class should discuss how we may place our trust in modern knowledge and technology instead of the living God.
Q3. WHY DO PEOPLE TRUST IN MAN?
A.) Poor knowledge of God/ ignorance.
Trust in man is convenient, and the natural man walks by sight and finds it easy to trust in what is known rather than the unknown, the seen rather than the unseen. The Lord stated: “This is life eternal, that they get to know thee, the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom thou has sent” John 17:3. To know God is for Him to increasingly reveal Himself to us through His word (2Cor 3:16-18). Knowing God shows in our ability to increasingly put our faith in Him and being transformed into His likeness.
B.) Unbelief i.e. inability to take God at His word.
Some people rather than take God for what His word says, decide to put trust in man that can be seen.
C. The fear of uncertainty/ the unknown/ poverty.
Some Christians will do almost anything to make sure that things go well with them. They are afraid of lack, failure, death, and not living up to the expectations of their peers or contemporaries. They want to be celebrated, remain in the “light”, be in front always, and will do anything to avoid trials, suffering, and being in the background. There is nothing Christian about this! Wouldn’t it have been easier for Daniel to take a month leave from praying than been thrown into the lion’s den? Or for Joseph to enjoy the pleasures of sin with Potiphar’s wife than spend years in jail? Would Saul not have kept his kingdom if he had obeyed God rather than let the fear of losing the loyalty of his soldiers make him disobey God? We are not given the spirit of fear. Actually, Christ has “delivered us from our enemies so that we can serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness all our days” (Luke 1: 64-65).
Q4. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO TRUST IN GOD?
Prov. 3:5-6, 1Tim 6:18-19
To trust in the Lord is to recognize that nothing and no one merits our primary reliance but the living God. It means to live in obedience to Him no matter what, to put Him first always, and be willing to let Him work out His plans for our individual lives (Jer. 29:11). It means to have taught of Him enough to realize that we should not consciously or unconsciously measure ourselves by what we have or have attained. In appreciating the value of men and wealth, they should be seen as gifts and instruments in God’s hand to do us good and so refuse to idolize them or allow ourselves to be idolized by men. What are the attitudes of those that trust in God? They deliberately train themselves not to be proud because of their position and whatever they have. They are rich in generosity emulating the living God who gives us richly all things to enjoy. They focus their attention on laying up treasures for ages to come.
A lot of benefits accrue to him that trusts in the Lord. As we acknowledge the Lord in all our ways He directs out paths; as we diligently seek Him, he honors our faith and rewards us far above our expectation. “…He takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servant Psalm 35:27). Reflect on Psalm 37:3-6 for more benefits of trusting in the Lord.
Daily Living Application:
Every day we are faced with decisions that portray the true state of our hearts. Will you trust God with the details of your life or take your destiny in your hands or place it in the hands of men? We cannot live true Christian lives and measure ourselves or others by socio-economic, academic, or religious status. While we must give everyone the honor they deserve, the truth is that only the work of Christ on peoples’ lives can make them what God redeemed them for, not the external positions, titles or wealth they acquire. Will you trust in man or God? Will you learn not to give men the glory that is due to God alone? Will you put your trust in the eternal living God and see men and women as they really are, channel of blessings and gifts in the Lord’s hands and nothing more? The choice is yours.
Memory verse:
Proverb 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledged Him, and He shall direct your paths”.
Daily Devotional Guide:
Monday: Futility of trusting in man.
Isa. 30:1-5, 7
Tuesday: Trust not in uncertain riches.
1Tim 6:17-19
Wednesday: Love not the world. 1 John 2:15-17
Thursday: Glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ
Gal. 6:14
Saturday: Blessings of trusting in the Lord.
Psa. 37:3-6