Trustworthy

This series is all about Relationships and the things that can be cause damage to those relationships”

Today we are going to focus on what it means to be trustworthy. It’s important that we look at ourselves first before we try to fix everyone else around us…

Matthew 7:3-5 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

When you think about the word “Trustworthy”…Who comes to mind? Why do you think that specific person came to mind?

Being Trustworthy means that we have “Integrity”

Integrity – “The state of being whole or undivided”

Ephesians 4:11-14 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
• Paul’s advice to the Church (and to you and I) -Be undivided in your beliefs and values! In other words, have integrity.

Matthew 23:25-26 25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.
• Christians today are more known for their hypocrisy than we are known for all of the good that we stand for.

“Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching”- CS LEWIS

Being “trustworthy” is not the same thing as being “perfect.”

The most trustworthy people in history are not perfect people (except for Jesus)…But there are some things that set them apart…
• They are quick to admit when they are wrong
• They are quick to ask for forgiveness!

Proverbs 28:13 (ESV) Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.

James 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.

How can we strive to be Trustworthy?
Becoming trustworthy people starts with our Trust in God. In other words, you can’t be trustworthy without trusting in something bigger than yourself.

Proverbs 3:5-6 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Trust = Hebrew word “BATAH” which means “to rely on”

Being Trustworthy means admitting when you are wrong…confessing your sin. First to God and second to the individual(s) that you sinned against

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Psalm 86:11 Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.

SOME QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF:
1. Are you a trustworthy person? If yes, what evidence is there in your life that would support this?
2. If you would not consider yourself trustworthy, is it a value in your life? Why or why not?
3. Have you broken someone’s trust? What do you need to do about it?
4. Do you have anything that you need to confess to God? To someone else?
5. Do you need to ask someone in your life for forgiveness? What would it look like to do that?

QUESTIONS TO REFLECT AND DISCUSS:

Passages to consider:
Matthew 7:24-27;1 Corinthians 13:6,7; Zechariah 8:16-17; Luke 16:10-12; Matthew 5:23-24
Ice Breaker: When have you pranked someone or someone pranked you? Tell the story.
Sermon Reflection – Something challenged or stood out to you from the sermon. Please share it.

Questions to discuss:
1. Read Matthew 7:24-27 & 1 Corinthians 13:6-7. What do these passages help us understand about abiding and trust in relationships?
2. What is your definition of trustworthy? What has being in relationship with Jesus shown you about trustworthiness?
3. What role does trust and being trustworthy have in the relationships with your family and close friends?
4. Read Zechariah 8:16-17; Luke 16:10-12 & Matthew 5:23-24. What is important or key to building trust or giving trust? What can be some trust-busters?
(Some additional passages – Proverbs 11:13; 12:22; 13:17; Daniel 6:4)
5. What helps you build trust in your key relationships? What can be challenging for you in the area of trust and trustworthy? How do you want to respond to what God is showing you?
6. Challenge: Use a resource like Biblegateway.com and look up the words trust and trustworthy in the Bible. What do you learn about God’s perspective and man’s part in trust and being trustworthy in relationships?
Passages to prepare for next week: Hebrews 12:14-15; Matthew 18:15-17; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:12