Scripture Reading: Matthew 7:7-12

Trustworthy and Trusting Others

Intro.

1. Who do you trust? Why do you trust them? Who should we trust? How do we show ourselves trustworthy?

-Trust: To rely, to have confidence in, to depend upon.

2. We must trust people (incl. strangers) every day: Driving, Rx, law enforcement officers, etc. We literally put our lives in the hands of others every day.

3. Trust generates and galvanizes confidence in one another. It is crucial to working together and to being successful in all our relationships.

4. It is tragic (and it can be sinful) when we do not (cannot) trust those we ought to be able to trust. We sin when we fail to be trustworthy people whom others can trust, Matt. 7:7-8…12.

I. TRAITS OF TRUSTWORTHINESS (produce trust).

A. Trust is Developed and Maintained through:

1. Love (develops and secures trust), 1 Cor. 13:4-8.

2. Honesty (true, truth), Matt. 5:37; Jas. 5:12.

3. Dependability (reliable), Lk. 12:40-46.

4. Capability (responsive), Matt. 25:14-15, 21, 23, 26.

II. WHOM WE SHOULD TRUST, AND WHY.

A. God, Heb. 2:13 (Christ, Psa. 2:12).

1. Because He loves us, saves us, protects us (security), is constant, sure, and steady, Psa. 7:1; 9:10; 56:11.

2. Supreme confidence, Psa. 118:5-9 (responds, on my side, for me);

3. Trust God for our soul’s salvation; Guide us in life, Jer. 17:5-7.

-How to be saved, and how to be faithful to Christ (Jer. 10:23).

B. Family, cf. Eph. 5:33-6:4.

1. Spouses, Prov. 31:10-11 (Gen. 2:23).

2. Parents, Matt. 7:9-11 (Eph. 6:4); 2 Cor. 12:14.

a. Children (young and old) should be able to trust their parents to care for them and treat them with loving respect.

b. Be humble and righteous, Prov. 20:6-7.

3. Children, Eph. 6:2-3; 1 Tim. 5:4, 8, 16.

a. God’s will in the home produces trust; Destroyed by selfishness and error, Mk. 7:9-13.

b. Children should be trustworthy to treat parents with dignity (parents should be able to trust their children to treat them with respect), Prov. 19:26.

C. Brethren in Christ, Rom. 12:9-18.

1. Like-minded, Phil. 2:19-24.

2. Envy, strife, division (carnality) destroys trust, 1 Cor. 3:3.

III. BLESSINGS RESULT WHERE TRUST EXISTS (WHEN WE TRUST ONE ANOTHER).

A. Communication. No trust – No communication, Eph. 4:25, 31.

B. Unity in Action (work together). No trust – No work, Eccl. 4:9-12.

C. Friendship. No trust – No friendship, Eph. 4:32; Phil. 2:4; cf. Prov. 27:6.

D. Compassion and Mercy. No trust – No forgiveness, Col. 3:13; Matt. 18:21-22.

E. Peace. No trust – No peace, Col. 3:15.

Conclusion

1. Trust is the mark of a mature, thoughtful, confident, and secure relationship:

a. Trust God: Righteous life of faith, Psa. 4:5.

b. Trust family: Respect, honor, and loving care (Prov. 14;26; 15:20).

c. Trust brethren: Pursue peace and edification (Rom. 14:19).

2. Our ultimate trust is in God; He will never fail us (Heb. 13:5).

3. We can imitate His trustworthiness, so we can trust one another as we serve His will each day.

By: Joe R. Price

Posted October 29, 2019