Trustworthy

THIS WEEK – HOME WRECKERS: LACK OF TRUST
DEFINITIONS:

Trustworthy (adj) – able to be relied on as honest or truthful.
• Honest, reliable, faithful, honorable, above suspicion, straight-up
Untrustworthy (adj) – not able to be relied on as honest or truthful.
• Dishonest, deceitful, unreliable, suspicious, dodgy

BEING TRUSTWORTHY:
If we want to be trustworthy in our relationships with others we need to be in relationship with the one who is trustworthy – Jesus!

Isaiah 25:1 (NIV) – Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.

Deuteronomy 32:3-4 (NIV) – I will proclaim the name of the Lord. Oh, praise the greatness of our God! He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.
• God is faithful, his will and actions result in wonderful things, he keeps his promises, he is steadfast, his works are perfect, all his ways are just and he is upright (straight-up), he is good and he speaks truth because he loves and he forgives.

We can be trustworthy if we learn from the words and ways of Jesus!

1 Timothy 1:12-16 (NIV) – I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.
• Regardless of where we have been and who we have been God in his immense patience, grace and mercy can change us into a person who is trustworthy!

DOING YOUR PART:
• Being trustworthy is first and foremost unto the Lord and in obedience to him
• The result of obedience to God is a healthy and beneficial relationship with others
• A lack of trust is the result of one who is untrustworthy, one who is untrusting or both.
• We are to be trustworthy and trusting like Jesus was trustworthy and trusting.

Little before Large

Luke 16:10-12 (NIV) – “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?”
• If we desire to be a trustworthy person we must be trustworthy with little and with large.

Love is a choice. Trust is a choice. We are to love and trust as God loves and trusts us.

1 Corinthians 1:4-7 (NIV) – Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
• Trusting like Jesus is an intentional choice just as loving like Jesus is.
• Trusting like Jesus is not ignoring or neglecting sin and hurt, but is choosing to be Christ-like in handling it.

QUESTIONS TO REFLECT AND DISCUSS:

Passages to consider: Mat. 7:24-27; 1 Cor. 13:6,7; Zech. 8:16-17; Luke 16:10-12; Mat. 5:23-24
Icebreaker: When have you pranked someone or someone pranked you? Tell the story.

How did the sermon challenge you this week?

Questions:
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? A)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? A)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? A) What can be challenging for you in the area of trust and trustworthy? B) 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?