Isn't that what we usually like to do? We don't think of it
sometimes, but usually we end up turning to men and seeking their advice and
counsel when we're in trouble. Let's see what the Bible says about trusting in
man.
Psalms 60:11 says, "Give
us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man." Here David is
crying to God in his trouble because he realizes that the help of man is vain
or useless. Do we realize the same thing as David? David was being hunted from
King Saul for his life and he knew he could depend on no one for help in his
trouble, except God. Maybe God allows us to go through deep trials or problems
to help us realize that trusting in man is in vain too. And sometimes we have
to learn the hard way, too! "Some,
erelong, will know by experience how vain is the help of man..." Testimonies, Vol. 5, page 487.
Psalms 146:3 says, "Put
not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help."
Putting trust in princes? Doesn't this sound like trusting in someone that is
higher than you or in authority? How easy it is for us to trust someone like
this! But David tells us that we should not trust even in princes. What is this
"son of man"? Isn't that Jesus? In this case, it is not referring to
Jesus because for sure, there is full and complete help in Jesus! This is
referring to any human man or woman.
This Day with God,
page 82 says, "In all your temporal
concerns, in all your cares and anxieties, wait upon the Lord. Put not your
trust in princes, nor in the sons of man because they may be in positions of
trust. The Lord has united your heart with Him. If you love Him, and are
accepted in His service, bring all your burdens, both public and private, to
the Lord and wait upon Him." Instead of turning to the "princes"
or those in authority we think can understand and help us, let us remember to
turn to God instead.
Psalms 118:8, 9 says, "It
is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. It is better to
trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes." Here David
repeats himself twice for more effective emphasis. He is saying that it is far
better to trust lightly in the Lord, than to put the strongest confidence in
other human beings. We must take our confidence away from our fellow humans and
place it fully and wholly upon God. Because in reality, how much can our fellow
humans do for us? Not a whole lot! They can listen to us and sympathize with us
and sometimes give us advice, but God is the only one who can really help us
and guide us in our troubles.
Psalms 40:4 says, "Blessed
is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor
such as turn aside to lies." Blessed or happy is the man that trusts
in the Lord - not in man. We will be happy and blessed when we choose to trust
in something lasting rather than in man.
Psalms 52:8 says, "But
I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God
forever and ever." What should we trust in from this verse? God's
mercy! What a great comforting thing to trust in!
So when we are tempted to trust in our fellow human beings,
let's remember that trusting in the Lord is a much safer option! :)
Prophets and Kings,
page 202 says "God was the strength
of Judah in this crisis, and He is the strength of His people today. We are not
to trust in princes, or to set men in the place of God. We are to remember that
human beings are fallible and erring, and that He who has all power is our
strong tower of defense. In every emergency we are to feel that the battle is
His. His resources are limitless, and apparent impossibilities will make the
victory all the greater."
God is the best one we can turn to in our troubles! Let's
not turn from Him, the source of all strength and power and go for our fellow
human beings. Put your trust in the Lord!
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