Don't put your trust in other humans

Isaiah 2:22 (NLT)

Don’t put your trust in mere humans.  They are as frail as breath.  What good are they? 

This meditation was written during the global financial crisis of 2008.

How appropriate a verse like this is during these times of economic meltdown when we hear and read about so many corrupt corporate executives and inept politicians. I have seen, and perhaps you have too, corporate bigshots act so high and mighty and expect underlings to fawn and seek favor from them. Don’t you think that victims of scams and from crooks like Bernard Madoff now heartily agree with the words of this verse?  Think of people who have revered their pastors only to learn that those pastors were scam artists or, worse, perverts.  Will they ever trust another human again?   Likely you have been “burned” or otherwise taken advantage of by others in whom you had put your trust.

 The intent of this verse and my examples is not to unfairly put down all humans, and certainly not pastors, many of whom are trustworthy, sincere, and honorable.  However, the context of Isaiah 2 is the coming of a “day of reckoning” before the “terror of the Lord and the splendor of His majesty” against the pride and loftiness of man.  If you are going to trust anyone, it should be the Lord.  If you are to believe anyone, believe in what the Lords says through His Word, not what someone says that is not based or backed up by truth of the Bible.

Proverbs 29:25 says, “The fear of man brings a snare, but he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted.”  Again, this is a verse that contrasts your relationships with other humans against your relationship with God.  You are not ever to fear another human, including your boss, but you are to fear and trust the Lord. 

The last segment of Isaiah 22:2…….. “What good are they”?  This is not stating that people are no good, that you are no good.  Have you ever said that about yourself?  You know that it is wrong!  It is wrong to think this way about yourself.  You are created in the image of God.  You are loved by God.  You are to love others as you love yourself.   Just keep a healthy view of Scriptures like this and, for example, Jesus’ statements about family in Luke14:26 in that such statements are not to be taken absolutely but relatively.  Relative to God, man is lesser in all respects.  You should never put your trust in another person in place of God.  Trusting others---those who earn and deserve it—takes second place to trusting God. 

Scripture is also clear that you should not trust yourself above trusting God.  Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.”  So who in your life might you be trusting or depending on more than God?  What must you do to reverse this?  Who or what can help you to increase your level of trust in the Lord?