In God We Trust?

Written on the currency of the United States of America is the phrase “in God we trust.” I find that to be interesting, as the area we trust God the least with is our money. There’s a reason why Jesus said “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:24). This thought has been on my mind this morning. As I was preparing for services this morning, I kept asking myself “Why hasn’t God gotten rid of these debts? They are fewer than they were, and yet, month to month, I keep having to pay them, and it seems that they are increasing again!” But then it occurred to me: I’ve never NOT been able to pay my bills, God has provided every step of the way, and He wants me to depend on HIM and not a paycheck. If tomorrow all of my debts were settled, and I had an increase in my bottom line every month, I would depend less an less on Him, and more and more on saving for retirement, rainy days, and the stuff I could buy.

Loved ones, we often are like the Church at Laodicea, depending on success rather than God. Jesus had this to say about them:

“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. (Revelation 3:15-17).

God wants us to depend on HIM and not our funds! Paul, when having a thorn in his flesh, received this word from the Lord: Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:8-10)

We wander so easily from Christ, but how do we stay? Simply put: we learn to depend on Him for anything and everything. We, by His word and the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of us, take one step at a time with and in Him (Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.-Psalm 119:105). Loved ones, we don’t trust God enough. We trust the work of our hands, which eventually fails (we get old, and so do our works), we trust in politicians who can never 100% keep their promises(and don’t often get as high as 50), we trust in jobs (which will eventually replace us or shut down), and possessions (which will eventually wear out!). Why not, instead put our trust in Jesus? All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him (Matthew 28:18), He lived, died and rose again for us, He sits at the right hand of the Father advocating for us. He is the Holy Uncreated One, and He is immovable. If He isn’t worthy of complete and utter trust, nothing and no one is.

Psalm 119:105-112

Your word is a lamp to my feet

and a light to my path.

I have sworn an oath and confirmed it,

to keep your righteous rules.

I am severely afflicted;

give me life, O Lord, according to your word!

Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O Lord,

and teach me your rules.

I hold my life in my hand continually,

but I do not forget your law.

The wicked have laid a snare for me,

but I do not stray from your precepts.

Your testimonies are my heritage forever,

for they are the joy of my heart.

I incline my heart to perform your statutes

forever, to the end.

Matthew 28:16-20

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Revelation 3:14-22

“And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

2 Corinthians 1-10

I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses— though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.