Will You Trust Me with That
Proverbs 3:1-8
By: Pastor Pamela L. Johnson
1-13-2019
This morning the Lord sent me by here to ask you one simple question. All He wants to know is, will you trust Me with that? I’m sure a few of you have already asked the question with what? If that’s you then let me assure you that you’re not alone. When He asked me the same question my response was with what. My prayer is that by the end of this message you have identified the that and you will begin to trust Him with it.
The book of Proverbs is written by King Solomon the son of David and Bathsheba. He took the throne around the age of 15. Solomon is known for building the first temple for God. But more importantly he is known for his wisdom. In this 3rd chapter of Proverbs we find him sharing with his son some morals, rules, behaviors in following God. This scripture is packed with great wealth. However, I’m just going to focus on two verses and that is verses 5 and 6. In these two verses I’m going to share with you a few points that will help you answer the Lord’s question to you, will you trust me with that…
In this passage of scripture we will uncover three things that will help you answer the Lord’s question of will you trust me with that. First before you can answer the question you have to know who to trust. Second you have to know where the trust to come from. Finally you have to know what you are trusting Him with.
Ernest Hemingway said, “The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them.” When you trust someone you have confidence in them. You have this belief that you can rely on them at any cost. I’m sure at some point in most our lives we have found ourselves questioning this trust thing. We may have encountered individuals that we put everything on the line for them, only to find out that was probably the biggest mistake of a lifetime. But even after that disappointment somehow you regrouped and tried again.
I have heard people say trust is earned and not given. And although it makes sense, I still struggle to agree with that statement. Because when I sit back and think about it, have I really earned God’s trust in me? Have I really proven to God that He can rely on me? Have I done so much that He has confidence in the fact that I will never disappoint Him or let Him down? Yet, He has poured gifts and treasures in me without solicitation from me. I didn’t ask for it and sometimes don’t want it, but He trust me to fully protect and use the gift.
Solomon told his son to trust in the Lord. I’m a person that hangs onto words and believe that one word and can change the entire meaning of something. He didn’t say, trust the Lord. He said, trust IN the Lord. Being one that focuses on words I had to get a better understanding of the word IN. For those of us that aren’t English majors in as an adverb means to or at an appropriate place. Solomon was letting his son know that the power, authority and dominion come from the Lord. The Lord asked the question will you trust me with that? He is saying that I’m the appropriate place that you can rely on that you can have confidence in.
He is saying to you, when have I ever let you down. Can you ever recall a time that I turned my back on you? When you called Me did I not answer you? When you cried out to Me did I not come see about you? I am that I am… I am El Shaddai (God Almighty), Elohim (The Creator), Adonai (Lord over all), Jehovah Shammah (The Lord who is present), I am God! Will you just trust Me with that? If you had any doubt in who to put your trust in. God wants to make it clear to you on today that you can have confidence that He is the appropriate one to leave that with.
Not only does Solomon assure his son who to put his trust in, he also tells him from where he should trust from. As I studied this scripture I noticed an interesting thing concerning this verse. I noticed that he didn’t tell him to trust him with his mind. I asked God why did He make a point not to just say trust in the Lord. Why did he give a particular place in where we should trust from? Then He began to reveal that thing to me. Do you want to know or you rather not? I’m going to tell you anyway. Solomon told his son to trust in the Lord with all his heart. All, the whole, lacking nothing or leaving any out. With his heart and not his mind. You see, your mind is that place that controls intellect, reasoning and thoughts. However, the heart controls our desires, hopes, dreams, and emotions.
Now, I might be the only one that has ever done this and I’m okay with being alone on this one. I’m a trendsetter and often don’t follow the crowd so that’s okay. But, there have been times in my life that God has asked me to do something that makes absolutely no sense to me. I mean like double your tithes knowing that it will put you deeper in the red and you already have a shut off notice from the utility company. God I have two kids that need lights. They are going to be cold because the heat won’t work. They will be hungry because I can’t cook. But you want me to double my tithes, God that just doesn’t make sense. How about this one, God you told me to marry the man and I did just as you told me to but then 14 years later you tell me to sign the divorce papers, that just don’t make sense to me.
Solomon said lean not to your own understanding. You see, if I trust God from my mind my intellect or reasoning will hinder my trust. Because so many times we only trust what we can see. If it looks like a duck and it quacks like a duck then certainly it must be a duck. My mind will prevent me from seeing past what’s in front of me. Oh but my heart, my heart has no limits. It believes and dreams the impossible. It might not be able to see how things are going to work out but it just believes that it will. Everything around me maybe in sinking sand but my hope rest in the Lord and if he delivered me before certainly He can do it again. My mind feeds my fears, where my heart feeds my faith. God wants to know will you trust me with that?
Finally the question that has been burning on your mind this whole time is, trust you with what God. He said, with that… There was a point in my life I can recall the Lord telling me to do something and trust Him and I asked Him trust you to do what Lord. Today, God is saying to you, you can trust me with that. Solomon told his son but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path. Recognize that even in the midst of your trying situation God is right there. The old saints used to say, it gets so dark on the ocean, it gets so dark on the ocean that I have to feel my way. But God is saying this to you that if you would just trust Him you don’t have to feel your way because He is the way and He will direct your path.
There’s a story told of a young couple. They were newlyweds and had begun to explore the adventures of their new life. One day this couple decided to get into a small row boat and go out on the lake for an afternoon picnic. They rowed to the middle of the lake pretty far from the bank and out of nowhere a great storm hit. The small boat began to be tossed around by the waves. The young husband began to attempt to row them back to safety but was struggling with the wind and the waves. The young wife began to cry out in fear because she just knew they were about to perish. She began to yell out all these suggestions of what he should do to save them. He kept trying to tell her to calm down that everything would be alright. However, as most women do she continued to yell and bark commands. Finally the young husband put the row in the boat and pulled out a knife and placed it at the neck of his wife. He asked her did she believe that he would cut her throat to kill her. She began to laugh and responded of course not. He then asked her why, she said because I trust you and you love me and would never do anything to harm me. He put the knife away and then said, just like you trust me to never harm you because I love you. Do you not think that God loves us enough to get us through this storm?
Somebody in here just might be in the midst of the worst storm of their lives. It may feel like everyone you thought you could count on is nowhere to be found. You might even feel like God Himself has disappeared. Let me encourage you today, if He brought you through the last time, He will do it again. So will you trust Him with that? Will you trust Him with your disappointment and let downs? Will you trust Him with your heartache and pain? Will you trust Him with your broken marriage and wayward children? Will you trust Him with your additions and depression? Will you trust Him with a bad doctor’s report? Will you trust Him with the broken pieces of your past? Will you trust Him with your fears and insecurities? No matter what it was, is or shall be, God wants to know will you trust me with that?
