These days, who can you truly trust? That’s a rhetorical question that we have all used from time to time upon being duped by someone somewhere in our past. Trust must be earned.
For the past 40 years I’ve presented financial solutions for my clients through a top-rated company with an impeccable record.
I’ve been blessed to represent this mutual life insurance carrier, and they’ve faithfully stayed true to placing their clients first and trusting their many agents who have stayed true to the company.
What we’re talking about here is more than reputation. We’re talking about integrity.
The Oxford Dictionary defines integrity as the practice of being honest and showing a consistent and uncompromising adherence to strong moral and ethical values.
In ethics, integrity is regarded as the honesty and truthfulness or accuracy of one’s actions.
As I look back upon my undergraduate degree from a Catholic university, perhaps the two most valuable courses I was required to take before graduation were Logic and Ethics. What I gleaned from the Marianist brothers who taught those courses has been invaluable in my professional career.
Sadly, very few universities even offer courses in Logic and Ethics to their students. The emphasis these days seems to be placed on disciplines alone and moral discipline is apparently not considered critical to a student’s future success.
Yet in God’s eyes, moral discipline takes center stage over worldly endeavors.
In my case, integrity was not just taught, but caught! Over my long career, I’ve witnessed how earned trust has led to outcomes that not only benefited all parties, but pleased God as well.
The Apostle John shares an interesting insight into Jesus and His trust in humankind. In John 2:23-25 we read, “Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name. But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. He did not need man’s testimony about man, because he knew what was in man.”
In a like manner, we must be cautious in whom and where we place our trust.
Sadly, many these days believe much of what they see, hear and read in their media of choice. And most mediums present ideologies that are diametrically opposed to what God’s Word presents.
There are lies and half-truths being hurled at us left and right and some are quite subtly laid at our feet. We may easily succumb, if not extremely cautious.
Scripture can help guard our falling literally, and I suggest you check out the Passages to Ponder below and consider putting one or more of these verses in your heart to protect you from the fiery darts of the Enemy.
As followers of Christ, we have access to the spiritual gift of discernment. With prayer and the support of other believers, we can find the strength to persevere and not be tempted by perverse ideologies.
By studying God’s Word and applying it to the daily challenges of life, we can be victorious in all the Evil One will throw at us.
As is written in Philippians 4:13, “I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.”
Let’s end with these words written by the Apostle Paul in Romans 10:11. “As the scripture says, ‘Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.’”