Be Confident in GodNäide

Don’t put your confidence in people instead of God

“Thus says the Lord: ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord.’” (Jeremiah 17:5)

Jeremiah 17 contrasts people who trust in the Lord with those who trust in man and whose heart turns away from the Lord. The first group will be blessed abundantly. The second group is “cursed”. In Psalm 146, we find the same teaching. We are advised: “Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save” (Psalm 146:3, NIV).

I think there are two main reasons for this stern warning. The first is that people will disappoint us sooner or later. Many are just seeking their interests. And even if their intentions are good, they are not able to give us what we need and to help us when we are in trouble. God, on the other hand, is almighty and completely trustworthy!

The second reason is that turning away from God to put our trust in man is deeply offensive to Him. It shows we don’t really love and trust Him above all. We either don’t have a personal relationship with Him or it is severely damaged. That’s very dangerous. For apart from God, we humans cannot flourish. We can’t experience lasting — even everlasting — joy if we turn away from the Lord.

Who do you trust most? Why?