1998-04-28 - Trust

2 Corinthians 3:4 Such trust have we through Christ towards God.

Paul considered the Corinthians his glory (2 Cor. 1:14) and the seal of his Apostleship (1 Cor. 9:2). The church at Corinth was his walking testimony that he had been called to this office. So it was then as it is now, it is the pastor’s shame when the people of his congregation grow worse, but his glory when the become rich in the grace of Christ and in all kinds of knowledge, (1 Cor. 1:5).

However, lets not think that Paul seems to over extol and celebrate his ministry. He says here in our verse for today, that the trust and confidence that he has in his ministry and service of God is through Christ. He ascribes the glory for success in the ministry to something outside of himself. He did not feel he was sufficient in himself (1 Cor. 3:5), but rather he admits he is simply a conduit, bringing the blessings of God to the people. In a similar manner our hope, our confidence and help is Him who made heaven and earth, Psalm 121:2. All our trust is to be in God through Christ.

We are to depend upon God in times of prosperity and times of adversity. “You shall make the Most High your refuge …” (Psalm 91:9). No matter our condition, our dependence must be upon God. When times of blessing are upon us, God is to be acknowledged as the fountain of those blessings. To practice this is to avoid becoming enticed by outward blessings that have been granted to us. On the contrary it simply raises our love and affection towards God. Sometimes aspects of our lives cause an increased burden upon us. Sometimes we feel that God has left us alone as David did, but David sets the example for us, he continued to trust God. Psalm 142:4,5, “Refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul: I cried unto thee, O Lord, and said, You are my refuge and portion in the land of the living.”

The providence and promises of God effect every aspect of our lives, both our outward and inward person. It is an issue of trust for the Christian to believe in God’s tender and Fatherly care for us, His children. This trust is not found in God alone as a deist would say, but rather it is found in God as He is understood by us through the redemption of our Lord Jesus Christ and the ministry of the Holy Spirit, to us, in applying the fruits of that redemption to our hearts and lives.

“The proper signification of the word trust, according to the more ordinary use of it, both in common speech and in the Holy Scriptures, is the emboldening and encouragement of a person’s mind, to run some venture in practice, or in something that he does, on the credit of another’s sufficiency and faithfulness.” Jonathan Edwards

Soli Deo Gloria,
Tim