What are you trusting -- really?

Something puzzling
When I studied faith and trust in the Bible, I discovered something puzzling –
I discovered that it’s not just believers who have faith. Everyone has faith.
Everyone is always trusting something to secure a satisfying future for them.
For example, Jeremiah 46:25 says people trust in Pharaoh.
Psalm 52:7 says people trust in treasure.
Isaiah 31:1 says people trust in chariots.
What does it mean to trust Pharaoh, treasure, or chariots? It means trusting them to secure and satisfy you.

Everyone lives by faith
So it’s not just believers who live by faith. Everyone is always trusting something to secure and satisfy them.
Take my day today. I started off fighting the fight of faith with Ezekiel 1-3, Job 1, John 7, and 2 Peter 1 — and the Holy Spirit strengthened my faith so I was trusting Jesus to secure and satisfy me.
But then at breakfast I heard something that depressed me because I thought it would make me look bad — which shows I had turned from trusting Jesus and was now trusting recognition from people to satisfy me.
But then I got some prayer time and confessed to Jesus that I had turned from Him — and asked Him to strengthen my faith once again.
And Jesus answered by having me get an email from a friend who shared a Scripture — which God used to restore my trust in Him as my all-satisfying Treasure.
So all morning I was living by faith in something — but it was not always Jesus Christ. I turned from trusting Christ, to trusting people, then back to trusting Christ.

How can I tell what I am really trusting?
My father taught that whatever I trust the most to satisfy me, I desire the most; and whatever I desire the most, I obey.
So there’s two crucial questions that show me what I am trusting.

What am I obeying instead of Christ?
Christ calls me not to look upon any woman lustfully (Mat 5:28).
So if I disobey Christ and entertain a lustful look, that shows I am no longer trusting Christ to fully satisfy me; I am trusting that sexual pleasure will satisfy me more.
Christ also calls me to meditate on His Word regularly (John 8:31).
So if I disobey Christ and watch TV without taking time for His Word, that shows I am no longer trusting Christ to fully satisfy me; I am trusting that TV will satisfy me more.
So one way to see what you are trusting is to ask — what am I obeying instead of Christ?  Whatever it is — that’s what you are trusting to secure and satisfy you.

What am I desiring more than Christ?
The other crucial question is — what am I desiring more than Christ?
Think about it. Over the past 24 hours, what has brought you the most joy? What have you been most excited about?
Monday Night Football? Profit in your 401k? Getting new furniture? Or Jesus Christ?
The answer will show what you are really trusting.
Not that we can’t find joy in other things. But when we desire other things more than Christ, it shows we are trusting them to satisfy us more than Christ.
This dishonors Christ, because He is the all-satisfying Treasure. And it leaves us empty, because nothing else will satisfy us fully and lastingly.

Monitor your heart
Throughout the day, take a faith-reading of your heart.  Ask — what I am obeying instead of Christ?  What am I desiring more than Christ?
The answer will help you see what you are really trusting — which will help you fight the fight of faith.

Taken from Living By Faith Blog- Steve Fuller