Trust Pt 1 Series

Sermon: Trust

Thesis: Everything in relationships rises and falls on trust! Do you believe that? Many authors and the Bible say it is a true statement! Trust is essential component to build and to experience if we desire to live “The Abundant life” in 2023 that Jesus spoke about.

Scriptures on Trust”

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 17: 7-8

7 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.

8 They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

Psalm 9:10

10 Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

Psalm 20:7

7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

Psalm 31:14

14 But I trust in you, LORD; I say, “You are my God.”

Psalm 56:3

3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.

Introduction:

We have all heard the words “Just Trust Me!” Some people say these words expecting others to immediately respond, “Yes, I will trust you!” But if you are wise or discerning sirens, flashing lights, and other warning signs should be going off in your mind and spirit.” Trust is a big character issue and must be entered into wisely and with prayer.

Dr. Cloud says, “These words often fall short. They can disappoint, sometimes terribly. Neuroscience tells us there’s a good reason we should not “just trust” someone…the entire human nervous system and brain are wired to scan our environment and quickly assess each person with whom we interact.” (Page 1, Trust).

We as humans are intently designed on the inside to ask the question of others internally, “Can I trust you?”

Today in our country we have a major trust issue going on!

Quote: “Levels of trust in this country—in our institutions, in our politics, and in one another—are in precipitous decline. And when social trust collapses, nations fail.” (David Brooks)

Illustrations of Broken Trust: The trust graph from Pew Research

Trust in the government is at an all-time low in our country Pew Research says it’s at about 20%, which is the lowest in history since they started recording it.

When Eisenhower was president, the country had a 75% trust rate in the government and in its leadership the year was 1960 – but the trust graph has continued to decline since 1960! In 1970 the trust factor declined under Richard Nixon’s presidency; the main reason was the Watergate scandal. The trust graph after Nixons resignation plummeted and keep plummeting lower under the leadership of Ford and Carter. The Trust graph rebounded a little under Reagan and the Busch era. But plummeted again after Bill Clintons sexual failure in the White House. The trust graph did rebound again under George Busch Jr presidency but once again declined under presidents Obama, Trump. But today the graph has hit an all-time low and has finally bottomed out with President Biden – His trust rating is at 20%-25% average – Yes - in America we have a lack of trust in leadership and in governments leadership. This poll was conducted in 2022. Our country has a trust issue today and it is spilling into all sectors of our society!

People today distrust others, especially government leaders, news media, law enforcement, educational leaders, business leaders and really leaders in general. Some say we don’t have a leadership problem but more so a trust problem in America.

There are trust issues at every level of society today we see it with medias portrayal of the police, lawyers, judges, teachers, businesses, products, school administrators, local leaders, school boards, government leaders and yes - even the church leaders and pastors of today – but this lack of trust has also spilled into how we view God.

The problem - But trust is crucial to a person being able to live an abundant life – trust is essential, and the lack of trust is negatively impacting our society, schools, workplaces, culture and churches.

Dr. Cloud informs us that “We can become better and better at knowing who is trustworthy and who is not. And we can get better at deciding when and with whom we will put ourselves at risk.”