In God We Trust

On Sunday, Liquid Church in New Jersey will give away $30,000 in tens, twenties and fifties by doing a "reverse offering". This church of over 2,000 members hopes to stimulate the enconomy and shift people out of a mindset of trusting the government to solve societies woes. In addition to the reverse offering, they will give $60,000 to area projects in what the church calls a "Spiritual Stimulus Package."

Read more here: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-jersey-church-offers-90000-spiritual-stimulus-to-ailing-economy-130108428.html

The pastor, Tim Lucas, is quoted as saying "Every dollar in our economy is printed with the words 'In God We Trust,' but we want to challenge people with the idea that 'God Trusts Them."

Regardless of what you think about this church's decision to give away such a substantial amount of money, this got me thinking about Lucas' point: GOD TRUSTS YOU!

In the great commission, Jesus says "All authority has been given to me..." So, what does Jesus do with this authority? He trusts YOU to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:18-9).

Paul charges Timothy to "guard the deposit entrusted in you" namely the Spirit working by the gospel. This is not a charge for just pastors, but people who live out the gospel which has changed their heart (2 Timothy 1:14).

In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus shares the story of the talents. In this story, a master trusts his servants with his wealth. He doesn't just ask them to hold it, but to invest it wisely in order to grow it. The moral of the story is that "to everyone who has been faithful with much, more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not been faithful with what they have been given, even what he has will be taken away."

Jesus trusts with many things in life: Money, Intelligence, Family, Relationships, Talents, Abilities, Degrees, etc. Think of all the things you have in life. The question is, can God trust you with it? What are you doing to make sure it is a good investment?

Often we make the mistake of trusting IN the things God gives us instead of letting God trust us WITH the things He gives us. I know this has been true for me. Recently, Laura and I have come into a small savings account. If I am not careful, my heart can make that an idol by trusting in it as a security blanket. But, God does not bless us in any area so we can feel secure, but so we can honor Him with it. As God told Abraham, God blesses us so that we will be a blessing to others.

After all, it is in GOD we trust. We do not place our trust in money, intelligence, family, relationships, talents, abilities, degrees, etc. Those are good things, but not the source of our trust.

Questions:

What things do you think God has given or entrusted to you?

Of those things, what do you feel you have done a good job of using to honor God?

What are the things you find you make the mistake of placing your trust IN instead of letting God trust you with them?

What are some ways that you can change to honor God with the things He has entrusted to you?