IT IS BETTER TO TRUST IN GOD

WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL

JANUARY 20, 2023

TOPIC: IT IS BETTER TO TRUST IN GOD

BY T. O. BANSO

“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 New King James Version).

In human relationships, it is impossible to avoid trusting in fellow human beings, whether it is your spouse, parents, friends, neighbours, workers, or others that you interact with. You cannot do without trusting them, including to do certain things they are supposed to do or have promised to do.

For instance, when you make an advance payment or deposit for something, it is based on trust that you will receive what you have paid for at the expected time. When you board a commercial vehicle, it is based on the trust that, the driver will take you to your destination. When you vote for a politician, it is based on the trust that he will fulfil his electioneering promises. When you marry someone, it is based on the trust that the person will fulfil his/her marital vows.

However, the reality of life is that human beings betray trust. Spouses, employers, politicians, and so on sometimes turn out to be something different from whom they have presented themselves to be. They don’t always do what they have promised. They sometimes disappoint those who have put their trust in them.

Many people who have been victims of such betrayal often find it difficult to trust others. They still suffer from the effects of the injuries from their spouses, friends, employers, neighbours, or even pastors. While we cannot do without some measure of trust in fellow human beings for harmonious relationships, we must never forget that we are dealing with human beings.

Human beings are not always whom they present themselves to be or they change under some circumstances. They could also be constrained and, therefore, unable to do what they have promised even when they have the intention of doing it. This is why you must never replace God with man in your life.

Psalm 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” (New King James Version). Take note of the phrase “It is better.” While you trust in man in your relationships, which I have said is unavoidable, don’t take your eyes off God. Put your trust absolutely in Him.

Human beings can and do disappoint, but God never does. Human beings have limitations but God doesn’t. There are some things that human beings cannot do or issues on which they cannot help you, but God’s power is unlimited. Human beings die, and die with their promises unfulfiled, but God is immortal. It is better to trust in the Lord than in human beings.

The Good News Translation puts Psalm 118:8-9 thus: “It is better to trust in the Lord than to depend on people. It is better to trust in the Lord than to depend on human leaders” (Good News Translation). Those whom the New King James Version refers to as princes the Good News Translation calls human leaders. These include political leaders, community leaders, and business leaders. While you may trust that they will do what they have promised, there is no guarantee that they will.

Talk is cheap! That’s why a politician could go around to campaign for an office and people vote for him to replace a supposedly bad leader, but his government could be worse than the government it took over from. However, this is not always the case. It is better to put your trust in God than in a political leader whose character you vouch for today but who may later manifest what you never knew was in him.

See how Easy-to-Read Version puts Psalm 118:8-9: “It is better to trust in the Lord than to trust in people. It is better to trust in the Lord  than to trust in great leaders.” Don’t replace your trust in God with trust in people or trust in a small or great leader! Even well-intentioned leaders may end up being a disaster! Some business leaders have disappointed their workers and clients/customers through fraudulent or unethical practices that affected these innocent people negatively. Employees have worked for their employers, expecting their salaries at the end of the month, only for the employers to default. It is better to put your trust in God than in man. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t trust anybody. But remember you’re dealing with human beings. Don’t trust anyone more than God. Let your ultimate trust be in God.

Referring to Judah’s trust in Egypt rather than in God, Jeremiah 17:5-6 says, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord. He will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives’” (New International Version).

In contrast, the Bible says, “But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.  He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit’” (verses 7-8 New International Version).  

Also in Isaiah 31, God warned the people of Judah not to put their trust in Egypt instead of  Him. They trusted in the multitude of the Egyptian chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen but did not look to the Holy One of Israel or seek help from the Lord (verse 1). Verse 3 says, “But the Egyptians are men and not God; their horses are flesh and not spirit. When the Lord stretches out his hand, he who helps will stumble, he who is helped will fall; both will perish together” (New International Version). Don’t abandon trust in God for trust in the world.

David said, “Blessed is that man who makes the LORD his trust, and does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies” (Psalm 40:4 New King James Version). It is better to put your trust in God than in man, small or great. David knew what it was not to trust in man from his relationship with King Saul, Ahithophel, and others. Talking about trusting in God, David said in Psalm 62:8-9, “Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Surely men of low degree are a vapor, Men of high degree are a lie; If they are weighed on the scales, They are altogether lighter than vapor” (New King James Version).

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. In his note on Psalm 118:9, Albert Barnes gives five reasons why it is better to trust in the Lord and not in princes. He says that it is better (1) because man is weak – but God is Almighty; (2) because man is selfish – but God is benevolent; (3) because man is often faithless and deceitful-God never; (4) because there are emergencies, as death, in which man cannot aid us, however faithful, kind, and friendly he may be – but there are no circumstances in this life, and none in death, where God cannot assist us; and (5) because the ability of man to help us pertains at best only to this present life – the power of God will be commensurate with eternity (Barnes Notes on the Whole Bible).

It is better to trust in God than in man, small or great. Trust in God.

TAKE ACTION!

If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.

Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself.  I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.

I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.

PRAYER POINTS: Father, forgive me in any way that I have replaced trust in You with trust in man. Holy Spirit, help me to trust in God at all times. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

(For over 900 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).

T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org