“It is better to trust a person who should not be trusted than to distrust a person who should be trusted.” I heard that proverb years ago, and the long I live, the more I agree with it.
I’ve chosen to believe the best about people as long as I can. That’s gotten me into trouble several times, including the two times I was robbed at gunpoint. I’m sure that I’ve been swindled and cheated, scorned and ridiculed for that very trait. And I’m sure it will happen again.
But I don’t want to come to mistrust everyone. It’s not worth it to me. I see the people who are always looking for the other person’s angle, and I don’t want to be like them. All that you miss out on by not trusting people is not compensated by whatever amount of money and heartache you might save.
I’ve come to suspect, and here’s where I’m very open to correction, that we tend to assume people will act the way that we would in their very same situation. That is, the one who expects the other to try and take an unfair advantage is the one who would take that advantage, given the chance. We naturally exaggerate the negative traits of others, so someone who thinks everyone is a robber isn’t necessarily a robber himself. But he is someone who is willing to promote his interests (or those of his groups) ahead of those of others.
Does any of that make sense? There are verses that seem to urge us to be more “astute” in our dealings with others (Luke 16:8; Matthew 10:16) How trusting should we be? In what ways can we be too trusting?
When the time comes when men come to take us away for the bondage we have to the Christ is when we need to be on our guard and have our wits about us. Wasn’t it Paul who claimed Roman citizenship to get out of a scrap. (And look how God allowed the gospel of Christ to be preached among the kings and princes of this world). But we live a different time, a different place, a different culture. In this land and time we are not being dragged away from our families never to return. (at least not for faith ) But there those scary people out there who do threaten our peace. And I think that is what most are missing when it comes to dealing with our fellow man. I myself had the gun to the head by one those scary people and one time my family and walked into a robbery were a gun was used. There were no palpitations, sweat, nerves falling apart, but there was a feeling that I was not in control but that did not matter. There was calm, there was peace. I cannot explain it nor will try, I do not believe it was some great power of the Spirit but more of a simple trust that God is in control.
All in all people, are a blessing to meet, talk to, learn about, be open with. I guess my guard is down for I have no financial thing, no property, no real possessions to lose. So I thrive in the company of strangers. Walking down the street is a moment to carry on a conversation with someone. As for physical harm by the scary ones out there – I trust the Lord to keep my family safe. (Some may disagree with this way of reasoning and understand why – but I cannot explain why I trust) We carry no guns / weapons. I think this is what the Lord would want in His people. Yes there have been more than a few times I lost control of the peace – but Our Lord is good and He shows His grace and patience with semi old fat guys like myself and the peace returns. We must remember we are light and salt. So why act like the world and be in fear/skeptical/un-trusting.
Well there is the CIA, DEA, ATF,FBI, National Guard, Para Military, Highway Patrol, Sherriff, City police, Special Forces, Coast Guard, Border Patrol, U.S. Marshalls, Forrest Rangers, Standing Military, Secret Service. Not to mention corrections officers to guard prisons. I have probably missed about 10 others. My point is we have all this law enforcement for a country that is relatively safe to walk the streets in Anytown, USA. But we all know that being in the wrong place at the wrong time could spell dire consequences. Sometimes I am in a place that could be considered unsafe. I am always aware of my surroundings. Always in most cases not to be in areas in which there is a high crime rate. But sometimes bad things happen to good people. I guess you can say that I am a skeptic. I have had a robber walk into my house while I was sitting in my downstairs living room coming face to face with the individual. He was unarmed and ran. I am much more guarded now than I used to be. Trusting in this day and age, quite frankly, no.
Ed,
Paul also claimed his status as a Pharisee. I’m not sure, based on Philippians 2, that he would recommend either action to other Christians.
I agree with your reasoning, except that I would say that God will protect/not protect our physical lives according to what is in the best interest of our spiritual lives.
Grace and peace,
Tim Archer