When To Trust
How does one determine who is trustworthy? It’s always a measure of many things. If you’re the type who judges a face to be honest, you’ve probably experienced many hardships and disappointments. If we trust by association, our dismay will carve permanent frowns upon our faces for all to see. If we measure by reputation alone, we will be partially right and of course, partially wrong. If we evaluate during good times and apply our conclusions during difficult times, we’ll constantly wonder, how this can be? If our assessments are hasty, our demise will be equally so. From this we can gather the essential wood for our warming fire. Judge the heart and mind equally. Apply personal experience in small does, to augment an untested reputation. Reputations can be purchased. Test during both calm and stormy skies, compare the results. We must take our time and remain objective, there is a reason that we were given both a heart and mind. The source whom I trust the most says, in Luke 16:10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much“.
I’ve been shocked, appalled, dumbfounded, bewildered, confused and at times astonished by the willingness of so many to replace honesty with convenient lies. The moment that someone is caught in false testimony their trustworthiness is lost for the one who was lied to and perhaps everyone else they know. Even if they’ve been honest over their entire life, that one quick journey down a path of deceit can’t be undone. The amount of time necessary to repair a damaged reputation can never be recovered. A thirty second lie casts ripples out around us for an equal number of years.
How do we assess trust without being judgmental since trust is so critical to living in a relationship world with others? Consider actions rather than people. Accumulate enough direct knowledge of actions and activities to assess both behavior and character. Start with trust but only in small doses. Use only confirming reliances and only from those you trust implicitly on the subject being considered. A great farmer might make an awful chef. Even though God has a great reputation, it will still takes us years in relationship with our Lord to fully trust and surrender our lives to him. Allow adequate time, the desired end is sufficiently justified to warrant it.
JC Calkins with COMMON SENSE 4 UNCOMMON PEOPLE (share comments with us & spam with others)
No Comments