For almost a year, we have lifted up the five core values of our ministry:  Christ-likeness, Relationships, Trust, Teamwork, and Excellence.  Let’s look at Trust today.

TRUST
•    We do the right thing.
•    We do what we say we will do.
•    We tell each other the truth.

All relationship are built on trust (marriage, business, friendships, etc.)  In our Scripture reading of 2 Timothy 4:9-15, Paul was trying to navigate through his relationships.  In these verses, he was mentioning names and giving statements about them.

Paul’s Relationship Network – He had many networks, but this is just one set of those relationships.  In our day, we also have many networks (Facebook, Twitter, text messaging, etc.). Paul talks of many of his relationships in these verses.  Interestingly, each statement made about them was a trust statement.  Let’s look closer:

• Timothy – I want to see you now.
• Demas:  I cannot trust him
• Crescens:  I can depend on him.
• Titus:  I believe in him.
• Luke:  I trust him with my life.
• Mark:  I can trust him now.
• Tychicus:  I can trust him to do what I ask him to do; he always follows through.
• Alexander:  I do not trust him at all.

Launching from Paul’s life and this text on relationships, let’s see how this all relates to us.

Relationships 101:
➢    Every relationship is important.
➢    Each relationship is at a different level.
➢    Trust determines the depth of every relationship.
➢    People will disappoint you (be willing to accept it, forgive them, let it go, restore them, etc.)

Discern whom you can trust. To discern means to be able to recognize or identify as unique.  How do we do this?
➢    Life – observe – watch – listen
➢    Heart – try to see into their heart
➢    Time – time reveals who you can trust
➢    Prayer

After 33 years of being a pastor of a church, I still believe in people!

I pray this will help you in your life today – have a great day!