“Do not boast about tomorrow,
For you do not know what a day may bring forth.” (Proverbs 27:1)
If you think you are in control of anything, think about tomorrow. For that matter, think about yesterday. You cannot change the past—as much as you sometimes wish you could—and you have absolutely no control over the future. You do not know what that next day, next year, not even the next moment, will bring forth. A man’s heart may well plan his way, but there is Another who directs his every step (Proverbs 16:9). Not we, but only He not only knows the future but has it completely in His control—for His glory and our good.
If that is a scary thought to any of us, that is because we are still far too jealous for control in our lives. But if it is God’s will we truly want, and if it is God alone in whom we trust (as our money still says), and if we believe God has been good to us thus far, then we will lay down any claim we have to power or control or manipulation of events and gladly anticipate and receive with joy whatever it is He has coming down the pike for us. Think about it: Do you really trust yourself that much, I mean, to orchestrate future events, even if only for yourself? Talk about scary thoughts!
Trusting in God this way for our future comes from the same sort of heart that gives thanks for all the past. Whatever God has done is good. Whatever. If it had not been for God’s mercy and grace and providence and wisdom entirely driving and covering all things that have come to pass—it is unthinkable, of course. Could you have done better? Again, we sometimes think we could have, but honesty requires us to lay that one down too. Best to leave it all in God’s hands—past, present, and future.
None of this means we are to be passive, of course. One of the things God does is work in us “to will and to do for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13) We are called upon by this sovereign God to will things, to will His will, if you will—to desire and determine and decide what it is God desires from us. And we are then equally called upon to do it. But our doing it will be much closer to the kind of doing God desires the closer we are to the kind of people who trust in a God who is in complete control of everything—most especially the tomorrow in which we plan to do the pleasure of God.
No boasting in tomorrow but only trusting in the God who holds it. No “living in the past” but only the giving of thanks for all the good God has done in it.
“Lord God, You are the one who performs all things, and You perform all things well. We do not know what tomorrow holds, but we know You know, and we know You have planned it perfectly for our good and for Your pleasure. We give thanks to You this day for all things past, for all the wonders You have performed, for Your careful and gracious design, and we give thanks for all things future, trusting and knowing You will do all things well. Help us in our planning and doing to desire and to do Your will; guide us by Your Holy Spirit in every step that we might perform Your holy will. We pray in Christ’s name. Amen.”
Showing posts with label Trust. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Trust. Show all posts
Monday, May 30, 2011
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Trust
“The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain.” (Proverbs 31:11)
Many describe “trust” as the number one characteristic of successful marriages. Whether it is number one or not, it is certainly among the chief, and there is no good marriage without it. The best kind of woman is the one who is trustworthy. When a man is looking for a wife, or evaluating a woman as to her fitness as his wife, he should seek to understand if she is counted trustworthy—by her parents, by her friends, by her employer, etc.
The woman described by Solomon here is dependable, her word is good, she follows through with her commitments. And, as a result, prosperity ensues. If there is lack of gain, it won’t be because of her. The economy might crash, other “friends” may not come through, the weather may not cooperate; but this virtuous woman is a woman you can set your clock by. She will be there, with her hat on, sleeves rolled up, and ready to think, do, and say whatever love and devotion call her to. She loves her husband and desires his success, and so this is what she pursues with a passion.
But a man can hardly expect trustworthiness out of a wife if he is not completely trustworthy himself. Not only will his faithfulness, reliability, honesty, forthrightness, integrity, loyalty, and devotion encourage and be an example for the same in her, but, just as surely, the absence of such things will undermine the relationship whether she is trustworthy or not. Again, no relationship can survive where trust is not present, and broken trust robs the relationship of the necessary atmosphere it needs for trust to be able to breathe and thrive.
Likewise, when a husband does not freely give his trust to his wife, e.g., if he treats her as though she cannot be trusted with the cares of the household, or if he is continually telling her how incompetent she is, she will grow neither to trust him nor herself—and again the marriage breaks down. Trust is essential, and trust must be given as well as earned. A woman’s (or, for that matter, anyone’s) maturity and success depend on our trusting them enough to give them the room and responsibility to build and demonstrate their trustworthiness. Belittling criticism, crippling perfectionism, and prideful micromanagement have destroyed trust in as many relationships as anything else. A faithful husband loves his wife and pulls for her success as equally as he expects her to pull for his, and in this way the whole ball of trustworthiness in their relationship is bound up and repeatedly fed by love.
As with all else, trust between husband and wife begins and ends with their respective trust in and devotion to God. Trusting in the Lord with all your heart (Proverbs 3:5, 6) is the only true foundation for trustworthiness in marriage or any other relationship. If we devote ourselves to the “gain” or success of God’s glory and kingdom by trusting in His Word and His ways, we will be more and more successful in becoming those who can be relied upon by others. After all, this virtue as all others is understood and known best when looking to God: Who is more trustworthy than He?
“Heavenly Father, we give thanks for Your trustworthiness and faithfulness and pray You would make us trustworthy in all of our relationships—uppermost in our relationship with You and second uppermost in our relationships with our spouses. By Your grace, help us to restore any trust that has been broken, and build in us by Your Spirit and Word the trust that is necessary for the success of any marriage. We pray this by faith and in the name of the Son of God, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.”
So he will have no lack of gain.” (Proverbs 31:11)
Many describe “trust” as the number one characteristic of successful marriages. Whether it is number one or not, it is certainly among the chief, and there is no good marriage without it. The best kind of woman is the one who is trustworthy. When a man is looking for a wife, or evaluating a woman as to her fitness as his wife, he should seek to understand if she is counted trustworthy—by her parents, by her friends, by her employer, etc.
The woman described by Solomon here is dependable, her word is good, she follows through with her commitments. And, as a result, prosperity ensues. If there is lack of gain, it won’t be because of her. The economy might crash, other “friends” may not come through, the weather may not cooperate; but this virtuous woman is a woman you can set your clock by. She will be there, with her hat on, sleeves rolled up, and ready to think, do, and say whatever love and devotion call her to. She loves her husband and desires his success, and so this is what she pursues with a passion.
But a man can hardly expect trustworthiness out of a wife if he is not completely trustworthy himself. Not only will his faithfulness, reliability, honesty, forthrightness, integrity, loyalty, and devotion encourage and be an example for the same in her, but, just as surely, the absence of such things will undermine the relationship whether she is trustworthy or not. Again, no relationship can survive where trust is not present, and broken trust robs the relationship of the necessary atmosphere it needs for trust to be able to breathe and thrive.
Likewise, when a husband does not freely give his trust to his wife, e.g., if he treats her as though she cannot be trusted with the cares of the household, or if he is continually telling her how incompetent she is, she will grow neither to trust him nor herself—and again the marriage breaks down. Trust is essential, and trust must be given as well as earned. A woman’s (or, for that matter, anyone’s) maturity and success depend on our trusting them enough to give them the room and responsibility to build and demonstrate their trustworthiness. Belittling criticism, crippling perfectionism, and prideful micromanagement have destroyed trust in as many relationships as anything else. A faithful husband loves his wife and pulls for her success as equally as he expects her to pull for his, and in this way the whole ball of trustworthiness in their relationship is bound up and repeatedly fed by love.
As with all else, trust between husband and wife begins and ends with their respective trust in and devotion to God. Trusting in the Lord with all your heart (Proverbs 3:5, 6) is the only true foundation for trustworthiness in marriage or any other relationship. If we devote ourselves to the “gain” or success of God’s glory and kingdom by trusting in His Word and His ways, we will be more and more successful in becoming those who can be relied upon by others. After all, this virtue as all others is understood and known best when looking to God: Who is more trustworthy than He?
“Heavenly Father, we give thanks for Your trustworthiness and faithfulness and pray You would make us trustworthy in all of our relationships—uppermost in our relationship with You and second uppermost in our relationships with our spouses. By Your grace, help us to restore any trust that has been broken, and build in us by Your Spirit and Word the trust that is necessary for the success of any marriage. We pray this by faith and in the name of the Son of God, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.”
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