December 9 - Whom Do You Trust?
December 9
Whom Do You Trust?
Bible Reading: Luke 16:10-12
10He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. 11Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?
Proverbs 16:13
Righteous lips are the delight of kings, and they love him who speaks what is right.
WHOM DO YOU trust? Of all the people in the world, there are probably only a few you would trust to hold your lunch money for you, right? And there are probably even fewer you would trust with your deepest secrets. In the space below, jot the names of two or three people that you could trust with your money or your secrets:
Now think about why you trust those people. Put a check beside any statement below that expresses why you trust the people you listed above:
¨ I trust them because of where they live.
¨ I trust them because each of them once lied to me.
¨ I trust them because I like them.
¨I trust them because they're kinda good looking.
¨ I trust them because I've never seen them steal anything.
¨ I trust them because they know all the words to "Louie Louie."
¨ I trust them because they like lima beans.
¨ I trust them because they've never lied to me or cheated me.
¨ I trust them because they pick their noses.
Chances are, you only checked one or two of the statements above, right? Why?
Because you don't trust someone any more or less if he or she knows all the words to "Louie Louie." You don't trust someone simply because he or she picks his or her nose. And you certainly don't trust someone because he or she has lied to you before.
If those things don't earn your trust, what does? Simple, right? You trust someone who has been honest. You trust someone who has told you the truth in the past. Because honesty invites trust. That's one of the big advantages to obeying God's commands to be honest. When you're honest, you encourage other people to trust you; when you're dishonest, you make people suspicious and distrustful of you.
One of the proverbs of Solomon says, "Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value a man who speaks the truth" (Proverbs 16:13, NIV). That's true not only of kings but of everyone. People value--and trust--those who are honest.
REFLECT: If your friends were to make a list (like the one you made above) of the people they could trust, would they include your name? Why or why not? What about your parents? teachers? other family members? Does your behavior encourage others to trust you or has it been making people distrust you? How do you know?
PRAY: "Father, I want to be trusted by my friends, parents, teachers, and others. Help me to earn their trust by my honest words and honest behavior."