Mensa Otabil - Loyalty and Trustworthiness
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Proverbs 3:3 and 4: Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart, so you will find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man. In addition to the word of God becoming our rule and our command, we are instructed to observe mercy and truth. The word «mercy,» as it is used in this verse, refers to the kind of love we have for people that makes us loyal and faithful to them. So, mercy here, in this context, is not talking about having pity on people; it is about being faithful and loyal to people. It is a statement about loyalty. Although the word is «mercy,» the Hebrew word means loyal and faithful. It is being good to people because you are committed to them. The word «truth» refers to being firm or trustworthy.
Thus, two things are mentioned here: mercy, which means faithfulness, and truth, which means being trustworthy. These are two components that God wants us to bind around our neck and write on the tablet of our heart. Why? Because they affect our relationships with people and our relationship with God. Every relationship we have that is beneficial will require that we are loyal and that we are trustworthy. When people trust us, they commit much to us. The more they trust us, the more opportunities they give us. The less people trust us, the fewer open doors we have.
So, if you want God to show you favor and you want people to show you favor, to be nice, kind, and generous to you, then the Bible says that you must show loyalty and be trustworthy. Now, the passage says that when you do that, you find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man-not only God showing you favor, but man also showing you favor. That’s a great place to be when God likes you and people like you. Things are working for you because you are loyal and trustworthy to the people you have relationships with.
So, practically, how do we develop these two attributes of loyalty and trustworthiness? I’ll just give you two suggestions. Number one is that you must appreciate what people do for you. We must not take kindness shown to us for granted. Many times, people do things for us that may not seem very big; they may seem very small, but they are significant. We must learn to say thank you and appreciate people. If possible, do something back for the person so they know that what they did for you has been well received. Appreciate what people do for you; don’t take goodness for granted or people’s efforts to help you for granted.
Second, if we are going to build loyalty and trustworthiness in our lives, we have to keep our word to people. When we make promises, we must keep them. I know that sometimes it is difficult to keep your word, not because you don’t want to, but because circumstances change for all of us. However, we must endeavor that once we make a promise to somebody, we keep our word so that people trust us. When you tell someone you will do something, they should know you will do it. When you promise to be somewhere, they should know you will be there. We have to get to the point where our word is like money — when you give a promise, you honor it, making it reliable. This is how we become trustworthy and loyal, and when we do that, the Bible says you find favor with God and with men. May God make you such a person who has favor with God and with men.
Let’s pray. Say with me: «Heavenly Father, you are faithful and dependable. Help me to be a faithful and dependable person in all my relationships. In Jesus' name, amen.»