Can God Trust Us?
Once more, our nation is facing a political crisis because of the political assassination of Republican activist Charlie Kirk. Regardless of how you felt about Mr. Kirk’s views, all of us have to be concerned that personal violence has now become an expected part of our political discourse. Do we really want the price of public service to be the risking of one’s life?
When we are frightened like this, our first question is, “Can we trust God to get us through these dark times?”
Is God gonna carry us in those places where we cannot see the path in front of us?
Will God protect us from enemies, both seen and unseen? The Bible is filled with stories of God stepping in to save His people in those moments when they were overwhelmed and sure they wouldn’t be able to survive. God of course, was faithful and, of course, the people of God not only survived, but they thrived.
Yet, as I thought about this, I’m not sure that’s the only question being asked right now. I know we want some kind of assurance that we can trust God in these moments. With that said, I’m wondering if God is asking if He can trust us. My sports career was never anything to write home about. I was always good enough to make the team, but no coach thought seriously about playing me. Yet, life is often cruel and in those moments when a star player got hurt or in foul trouble and I had to go in, I could see the anxiety on the coach’s face. He had seen me practice. He had seen me dribble, shoot and in all those hours after school, I had never earned the coach’s trust. He wasn’t sure I would be able to handle the moment. He would be hoping I just wouldn’t mess things up.
So, how was my career? Don’t you think if I had done anything worth telling I would have told you by now?
The Bible tells a lot of stories about God giving His people small tasks to teach them how to work and live in the Kingdom of God. As they mastered each small task, they were trusted with more. Jesus would send His disciples out on short mission trips. They would go out and preach the gospel and heal the sick. When they would return, Jesus would pull them aside for a debriefing and more teaching.
In the parable of the talents, each servant is given a portion of the master’s wealth to invest and care for. The story insinuates this was a common practice of the master. Each time he went away, he would trust them with 1, 2 or 5 talents. As they were successful, he would trust them more and more. He would give them a small amount and if they were faithful with a small amount, they would be given more and more.
Whether we realize it or not, God is testing us everyday. He’s given us moments, both big and small, to see if we can be trusted. Can we be trusted with resources? Can we be trusted with relationships? Can God trust us to do the right thing, the right way, at the right time? Can God count us to be faithful to Him? Can He count on us? I pray so. Our country needs us to be faithful right now.
These are indeed hard and dark times for our country, but the question being asked isn’t “Where’s God?” but “Where’s the church?” The question isn’t “Can we trust God,” but “can God trust us?” Join me in praying God will find us faithful to Him even as He has been and is faithful to us.
This essay was first posted in Scot McKnight’s newsletter.
