Sept 23.98: Light for The Day - "About . . . Misplaced Trust"

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding."
-- Proverb 3:5 (NIV)

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"Been Thinking About . . . Misplaced Trust

If God is good, but good isn't God,
how do we avoid making some of our worst mistakes
with some of the best things in life? As I've pondered
this question, these thoughts seemed to lift the fog
for brief moments.

In an effort to clarify the problem of misplaced trust,
I say to my own heart: 

- Love God, but don't depend on your love for Him.
- Make it your purpose to serve Him, but don't ever
imagine that He's indebted to your service.
- Make it your objective to please Him, but don't
depend on your own efforts to do so. 

- Listen to your conscience, but don't depend on your
own ability to discern right from wrong. 
- Plan your way, but don't presume to know what's ahead.
- Try to find the company of wise people, but don't 
stake your life on their counsel.

- Know the Word of God, but don't make a god of your
knowledge.
- Feel sorrow for your sin, but don't count on your
sorrow to assure your rightness with God.

- Count your money and manage it well, but don't
suppose that any amount of money can secure
safety or satisfaction. 
- Work hard, but don't depend on your work.

- Love others, but don't be proud of your own love.
- Give gifts to others, but don't depend on your gifts
to accomplish the intent for which you gave them.

- Seek to be successful, but don't bank on your own
accomplishments. 
- Work hard to make good decisions, but don't depend
on your own decisions.

- Pray, but don't make an idol out of your prayers. 
- Know your spiritual gifts, but don't pin your faith
on them.

- Follow good leaders, but don't stop thinking for
yourself. 
- Value friendships, but don't depend on your friends.

- Be careful about your appearance, but don't rely
on good looks. 
- Enjoy rest, but don't live for your weekends.
- Exercise your body, but don't trust your exercise
to assure well-being and health.
- Try to live a long life, but don't count on a long life.

Father, help us to hear You when You urge the wise
not to trust in their wisdom, nor the strong to depend
on their strength. Help us to hear You when You
invite us to rely on this and this alone, that we know
You, the everlasting God (Jeremiah 9:23-24).
Teach us, Father, to trust what You have done for
us through the undeserved provisions of Your Spirit,
Your Son, and Your grace.

-- Mart De Haan (Campus Journal)
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"Behold, God is my salvation;
I will trust, and will not be afraid;
for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation."
-- Isaiah 12:2 (RSV)