Sunday Rewind 4.26.09

Trust is the foundation of all relationships. When trust is present, relationships flourish. When it’s not, they disintegrate. As Christ-followers, we’re called to trust. But, we all struggle with trusting sometimes. This is the tension we’re exploring in this series of sermons. Last week we discussed choosing to trust. This week we talked about choosing to be trustworthy.

What does it mean to be trustworthy. How do you know somebody is worthy of trust? How do you show people that they can trust you? This isn’t a new problem. Throughout the history of the world, civilizations have developed oath rituals to establish trustworthiness.

In Jesus' day, God's people swore by all sorts of things: heaven, earth, Jerusalem, their heads. It got so complicated that it became necessary for rabbis to decide which oaths were binding. It’s in this environment, that Jesus turns up the heat. His message is simple. Quit trying to be clever with your oaths. Just do what you say you'll do and don't do what you say you won't (Matthew 5:33-37). Therein lies the path towards being a person who is worthy of trust.

Does that mean if we make a single mistake, we're not trustworthy? No! Being trustworthy is not the equivalent of being flawless. No matter how hard we try, all of us drop the ball sometimes. We all create gaps.

Being trustworthy is not the same as being perfect. But a trustworthy person addresses the gaps they create. So, let’s boil all this down to some positive steps each of us can take to choose to be trustworthy.

• I commit to do what I say I will do and when I don’t, I’ll tell you. If we are going to be successful in building a community of trust, we have to be honest with each other. If we're going to be trustworthy, we have to own our faults.
• I commit to not over promise and under deliver. But, if it looks like that’s where things are headed, I’ll tell you. If we are going to be successful in building a community of trust, we have to be realistic about or abilities. If we're going to be trustworthy, we have to kill our pride.
• If you confront me about the gaps I have created, I’ll tell you the truth. If we are going to be successful in building a community of trust, we have to handle candid conversations well. If we're going to be trustworthy, we have to speak truth in love.
  

Imagine the impact it would have on this community if we would choose to be trustworthy AND choose to trust. We’ll find ourselves being less suspicious of each other. We’ll begin thinking the best of each other. We’ll bring a completely different attitude to our neighborhoods. We’ll bring glory to God as we grow in our relationships with Him and with each other

Friends, let’s choose to trust and be trustworthy.