It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
It is safer to rely on the Lord than to rely on people. That contrast holds even when the people are princes, rulers, and leaders in positions of trust. Human words and promises can fail and human counsel is unsafe when it is not guided by God, while the Lord is the unfailing counsellor, helper, and source of strength whose wisdom and promise never disappoint those who trust Him. For this reason every teaching must be tested by God's Word rather than accepting human judgment as God's voice or clinging to the errors of respected leaders. Trust is lived out by bringing every burden to God in prayer, seeking His guidance in Scripture instead of following human ideas, and looking to Jesus in faith so that He can work for His people and keep them secure for this life and the life to come.
Trust in God Alone
It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in people, for reliance belongs on God rather than on human beings. That contrast holds even against princes, rulers, leaders, and those in positions of trust, whatever their position. Confidence placed in those regarded as leaders must not become so great that their errors cannot be discerned, with erroneous positions clung to and defended merely because others do so.
Human words, promises, and assurances can fail, and people themselves can fail. Leaning on human understanding brings disappointment and sorrow. Human counsel is unsafe when those giving it are not guided by God, and human judgments are shaped at times by shallow or unsound opinions.
The Lord is the reliable counsellor and sufficiency, and is to be trusted as counsellor and provider rather than relying on human assurances. He is to be trusted for wisdom and guidance in every trouble and perplexity, and looked to in trust in His infallible wisdom. His promise does not fail, so those who trust Him need not be confounded or ashamed, and their confidence will not be betrayed or turned against them.
Living by Trust Daily
God's Word is the only guide, so every teaching must be tested by the law and the testimony, and teaching contrary to God's Word has no light in it. Human ideas and judgment must not be accepted as the voice of God, for it is a fault displeasing to God and dangerous to honor the human in this way. Errors of regarded leaders must be discerned rather than clung to and defended merely because others do so.
Trusting God means refusing to honor and flatter people and refusing to become the echo of any person whatever his position, for such echoing is a sin common even among Seventh-day Adventists. Leading persons can allow themselves to be controlled by prejudice, evil surmisings, and envy, and then lead astray those who look to them for example. The opinions of others must not be allowed to weaken faith or turn one from duty, and depending on people who oppose what is right can leave one constrained and unable to carry out the work given by God.
Trust is practiced by daily dependence on God in prayer, bringing to Him every public and private burden and each case, which develops an individual experience of His presence and confidence that He will hear and help. In times of danger, trouble, and perplexity His guidance is to be sought through Scripture and prayer rather than by following human ideas or supposed light. Earnest prayer and implicit reliance on divine truth lead in the right way, while leaning on human understanding brings disappointment and sorrow. The same trust means seeking the Lord personally and relying on Him when human support is absent and when human judgments are shaped by shallow or unsound opinions. Those who ask in faith can rely on His promise to give strength and grace, while those who do not believe His word remain weak.
Looking to Jesus, rejoicing in His goodness and love, and relying on Him allows God to work for His people, whereas trusting people instead of looking to Jesus prevents Him from working. Such trust makes one secure for this life and the life to come, for His promise does not fail so that those who trust Him need not be confounded or ashamed. The Lord is helper and source of strength who can be trusted always, giving reason for courage and gratitude for His goodness and loving-kindness.
Even when a mighty host is arrayed against them, God's separated people gain the victory by trusting Him because He is on their side and has all power, and He declares them a peculiar people, an holy nation, and a royal priesthood. Those attending the meetings in Battle Creek needed to rely much more on God and much less on human beings. Listening to the voice of the True Shepherd keeps one from ever being led astray through dependence on Jesus the Intercessor.
It is safer to rely on the Lord than to rely on people. That contrast holds even when the people are princes, rulers, and leaders in positions of trust. Human words and promises can fail and human counsel is unsafe when it is not guided by God, while the Lord is the unfailing counsellor, helper, and source of strength whose wisdom and promise never disappoint those who trust Him. For this reason every teaching must be tested by God's Word rather than accepting human judgment as God's voice or clinging to the errors of respected leaders. Trust is lived out by bringing every burden to God in prayer, seeking His guidance in Scripture instead of following human ideas, and looking to Jesus in faith so that He can work for His people and keep them secure for this life and the life to come.
Trust in God Alone
It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in people, for reliance belongs on God rather than on human beings. That contrast holds even against princes, rulers, leaders, and those in positions of trust, whatever their position. Confidence placed in those regarded as leaders must not become so great that their errors cannot be discerned, with erroneous positions clung to and defended merely because others do so.
Human words, promises, and assurances can fail, and people themselves can fail. Leaning on human understanding brings disappointment and sorrow. Human counsel is unsafe when those giving it are not guided by God, and human judgments are shaped at times by shallow or unsound opinions.
The Lord is the reliable counsellor and sufficiency, and is to be trusted as counsellor and provider rather than relying on human assurances. He is to be trusted for wisdom and guidance in every trouble and perplexity, and looked to in trust in His infallible wisdom. His promise does not fail, so those who trust Him need not be confounded or ashamed, and their confidence will not be betrayed or turned against them.
Living by Trust Daily
God's Word is the only guide, so every teaching must be tested by the law and the testimony, and teaching contrary to God's Word has no light in it. Human ideas and judgment must not be accepted as the voice of God, for it is a fault displeasing to God and dangerous to honor the human in this way. Errors of regarded leaders must be discerned rather than clung to and defended merely because others do so.
Trusting God means refusing to honor and flatter people and refusing to become the echo of any person whatever his position, for such echoing is a sin common even among Seventh-day Adventists. Leading persons can allow themselves to be controlled by prejudice, evil surmisings, and envy, and then lead astray those who look to them for example. The opinions of others must not be allowed to weaken faith or turn one from duty, and depending on people who oppose what is right can leave one constrained and unable to carry out the work given by God.
Trust is practiced by daily dependence on God in prayer, bringing to Him every public and private burden and each case, which develops an individual experience of His presence and confidence that He will hear and help. In times of danger, trouble, and perplexity His guidance is to be sought through Scripture and prayer rather than by following human ideas or supposed light. Earnest prayer and implicit reliance on divine truth lead in the right way, while leaning on human understanding brings disappointment and sorrow. The same trust means seeking the Lord personally and relying on Him when human support is absent and when human judgments are shaped by shallow or unsound opinions. Those who ask in faith can rely on His promise to give strength and grace, while those who do not believe His word remain weak.
Looking to Jesus, rejoicing in His goodness and love, and relying on Him allows God to work for His people, whereas trusting people instead of looking to Jesus prevents Him from working. Such trust makes one secure for this life and the life to come, for His promise does not fail so that those who trust Him need not be confounded or ashamed. The Lord is helper and source of strength who can be trusted always, giving reason for courage and gratitude for His goodness and loving-kindness.
Even when a mighty host is arrayed against them, God's separated people gain the victory by trusting Him because He is on their side and has all power, and He declares them a peculiar people, an holy nation, and a royal priesthood. Those attending the meetings in Battle Creek needed to rely much more on God and much less on human beings. Listening to the voice of the True Shepherd keeps one from ever being led astray through dependence on Jesus the Intercessor.