Mensa Otabil - Remain Trustworthy
- Watch
- Donate
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. In addition to the word of God becoming a 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; rather, it’s 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 about being good to people because you are committed to them.
Then, the word «truth» refers to being firm or trustworthy. So, two things are mentioned here: mercy, which means faithfulness, and truth, which means to be 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 trustworthy. When people trust us, they commit much to us. The more they trust us, the more opportunities they give to 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 and be nice, kind, and generous to you, then the Bible says you have to 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 does God show you favor, but man shows you favor as well. That’s a great place to be-when God likes you and people like you, and so things are working for you because you are loyal and trustworthy to the people with whom you have relationships.
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 have to appreciate what people do for you. We must not take kindness that is 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, and we must learn to say thank you. We must learn to appreciate people, and if it is possible, do something back for the person to show that what they did for you has been well received. Appreciate what people do for you; don’t take goodness for granted. Don’t take people’s efforts at helping you for granted.
Second, if we’re 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’s 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 and give our word, we keep it, so that people can trust us when we say something will be done. When you tell somebody, «I’m going to do it,» they should know you will. When you tell somebody, «I will be there,» they should know you will be there. We have to reach the point where our word is like money because when you give a promise, you honor it; it becomes reliable, and you become trustworthy and loyal. When you 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 and amen.