“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.”
Psalm 118:8-9
Time and again the scriptures provide accounts of those who trusted in God and were blessed and delivered, versus those who trusted in man, whose plans came to nothing. A good example of this is in 2 Chronicles 14- 16. Asa, the King of Judah, did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and God had given him rest. Then, the King of Ethiopia came out against him with a vast army. However, Asa cried to the LORD and said, “It is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee. “ As a result, God fought on their behalf and they won the battle and carried away a great spoil. God gave them rest again from war. Then, many years later, the King of Israel came up against King Asa of Judah. This time however, instead of seeking God’s help, Asa sent silver and gold out of the house of the Lord and sent it to the king of Syria to request his help. In response, the prophet Hanani told Asa; “Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand. Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely on the LORD, he delivered them into thine hand. For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.” 2 Chronicles 16:7b-9
As a result he had many wars and didn’t get the victory he could have had otherwise. In fact, he set up a situation which would later allow the Syrians to take advantage of Judah and even go to war against them. He eventually became so reliant on man instead of God that later in life, when he developed a disease, the scriptures say: “…until his disease was exceeding great; yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians. And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign.” 2 Chronicles 16:12-13
In our lives today, we can sometimes slip into trusting in man, instead of God. We need to recognize these areas that need course correction, and turn back to the one who is our Provider. For instance, if you own your own business, it may become a temptation to see your biggest clients as “your source of income”. However, God is your source, the client is just one of many means God has to get that income to you. Maybe you look to your employer as your source, or to your spouse as your source of happiness, or the government as your source for some need. However, when we do this, we give them too much power. They become God to us. This should not be. We need to recognize and be fully convinced that ONLY GOD is our source. When we recognize God is in charge we are able to be more bold and we won’t put undo pressure on the people in our lives. When we truly get this revelation it is freeing, because we are now able to be bold to do what God calls us to do and say without fear, knowing that He is our source. No longer do we put pressure onto the people in our lives to meet our needs. When we know God will supply all our needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus, then we can truly be a blessing to others and we can live a life of rest. This is why Jesus commands us not to worry and tells us that God knows what we have need of before we even ask.
Think of the Israelites, they didn’t take the promise land when they were supposed to because they feared the men of it, instead of trusting God to deliver them. To them, the men of the land were bigger and more powerful because they didn’t consider how powerful God is. Yet God was the one who supernaturally delivered them out of Egypt and provided every need in the desert. When we come to the place in our lives that we trust God no matter what, and stop looking to others to meet our needs, then we are truly free to live the abundant life. God will never disappoint you!
Jeremiah 17:5-8
“Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.”
Isaiah 49:24b
“…for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.”
Proverbs 29:25-26
“The fear of man bringeth a snare; but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe. Many seek the ruler’s favour; but every man’s judgment cometh from the LORD.”
Psalm 118:6
The LORD is on my side; I will not fear; what can man do unto me?
Phillipians 4:19
“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Isaiah 41:10
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed: for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
Mathew 6:24-26
“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other: Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life; what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?”
Mathew 6:33
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Isaiah 65:23-24
“They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.”
