Building Trust: Foundations of Faith and Knowledge
Summary
In today's reflection, we explore the profound question of where we place our trust and the reliability of those objects of trust. Drawing from Psalm 20:7-8, we are reminded that while some may trust in worldly things like horses and chariots, our trust should be in the name of our God. This is a call to examine the foundations upon which we build our lives. The story of my hike with Nancy serves as a vivid metaphor for this lesson. Just as I mistakenly trusted a wobbly rock to support my weight, we often place our trust in things that cannot sustain us, such as wealth, reputation, or political affiliations. These can lead to disappointment and regret when they fail us.
The incident on the trail led to a deeper understanding of the difference between belief and knowledge. While belief can be misguided, true knowledge is grounded in reality and evidence. Faith, contrary to popular belief, is not opposed to knowledge. Instead, it should be built upon it. This is crucial because, without knowledge, we risk placing our faith in unreliable sources. The Bible frequently emphasizes the connection between knowledge and faith, as seen in Hosea's warning that people perish for lack of knowledge.
In practical terms, trusting in God means more than just feeling confident; it involves commitment and action based on sound understanding. Just as I had to trust the doctor's knowledge and follow their instructions for healing, we must trust in God and act on His guidance. This trust is not passive but requires active engagement with Jesus, leading to a deeper relationship and assurance that He is the true rock that will not fail us.
Key Takeaways:
- Trust is foundational to our lives, and misplaced trust can lead to regret. Just as I learned from the wobbly rock, we must ensure that our trust is placed in something solid and reliable, like God, rather than transient worldly things. [02:03]
- Knowledge and faith are not mutually exclusive; rather, faith should be informed by knowledge. Understanding this helps us navigate reality more effectively and prevents us from placing our trust in unreliable sources. [06:59]
- True faith involves commitment and action. Trusting in God means more than just believing; it requires us to act on His guidance and live out our faith in practical ways. [08:30]
- Interactive engagement with Jesus is essential for building a strong foundation of trust. Through dialogue and obedience, we come to know Him as the reliable rock that supports us. [09:49]
- The invitation to trust in God is an invitation to a life of gratitude, generosity, and worship. By placing our trust in Him, we find stability and strength in our daily lives. [10:20]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:26] - Trust and Its Objects
[01:08] - The Hiking Parable
[02:03] - The Wobbly Rock
[03:29] - Belief vs. Knowledge
[04:28] - Faith and Knowledge
[05:11] - Misconceptions of Faith
[06:31] - The Nature of Faith
[07:20] - Trust in the Lord
[08:07] - Trust and Commitment
[09:04] - The Invitation to Trust
[09:49] - Engaging with Jesus
[10:20] - Living Out Trust
[10:37] - Closing Remarks
[11:02] - Prayer Requests and Resources
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Psalm 20:7-8
- Hosea 4:6
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Observation Questions:
1. According to Psalm 20:7-8, what are the two contrasting objects of trust mentioned, and what is the outcome for those who trust in each?
2. In the sermon, what was the metaphor used to illustrate misplaced trust, and what was the outcome of that trust? [02:03]
3. How does the sermon describe the relationship between belief and knowledge, and what example is given to illustrate this? [03:29]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does it mean to trust in the name of God as opposed to worldly things like horses and chariots, as mentioned in Psalm 20:7-8?
2. How does the story of the wobbly rock serve as a metaphor for misplaced trust in our lives? What are some modern-day "wobbly rocks" people might trust in? [02:03]
3. The sermon mentions that faith should be informed by knowledge. How does this understanding affect the way one might approach their faith journey? [06:59]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you placed your trust in something that ultimately failed you. What did you learn from that experience, and how can it guide your future decisions? [02:03]
2. Consider the areas of your life where you might be relying on "wobbly rocks." What steps can you take to shift your trust to something more reliable, like God? [09:04]
3. How can you actively engage with Jesus in your daily life to build a stronger foundation of trust? What practical steps can you take this week to deepen this relationship? [09:49]
4. The sermon suggests that true faith involves commitment and action. Identify one area in your life where you can act on God's guidance this week. What will that action look like? [08:30]
5. How can you incorporate gratitude, generosity, and worship into your daily routine as a way of expressing trust in God? What specific actions can you take to live out these values? [10:20]
6. Reflect on the role of knowledge in your faith journey. How can you seek out knowledge to strengthen your faith and prevent misplaced trust? [06:59]
7. Think of a person in your life who might be struggling with misplaced trust. How can you support them in finding a more reliable foundation? What conversation or action could you initiate this week?
Devotional
Day 1: Trust in the Unseen Rock
In life, we often place our trust in things that seem stable but are ultimately unreliable, like wealth or status. These can lead to disappointment when they fail us. Instead, we are called to place our trust in God, who is the true rock that will not fail. This requires us to examine the foundations of our lives and ensure they are built on something solid and eternal. Just as a wobbly rock cannot support our weight, transient worldly things cannot sustain us. [02:03]
Jeremiah 17:5-8 (ESV): "Thus says the Lord: 'Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.'"
Reflection: Identify one area in your life where you have placed your trust in something unstable. How can you begin to shift that trust to God today?
Day 2: Knowledge as the Foundation of Faith
Faith is often misunderstood as being opposed to knowledge, but true faith is informed by knowledge. Without a solid understanding, we risk placing our faith in unreliable sources. The Bible emphasizes the importance of knowledge in building a strong faith, as seen in Hosea's warning that people perish for lack of knowledge. By seeking knowledge, we can navigate reality more effectively and ensure our faith is grounded in truth. [06:59]
Proverbs 2:3-6 (ESV): "Yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding."
Reflection: What steps can you take this week to deepen your understanding of God's word and strengthen your faith?
Day 3: Faith in Action
True faith is not just about belief; it involves commitment and action. Trusting in God means acting on His guidance and living out our faith in practical ways. This active engagement with God leads to a deeper relationship and assurance that He is the reliable rock that supports us. Just as one must follow a doctor's instructions for healing, we must follow God's guidance for spiritual growth. [08:30]
James 2:17-18 (ESV): "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."
Reflection: Consider one area of your life where you can actively demonstrate your faith through action. What specific steps can you take today?
Day 4: Engaging with Jesus
Building a strong foundation of trust requires interactive engagement with Jesus. Through dialogue and obedience, we come to know Him as the reliable rock that supports us. This engagement is not passive but involves an active relationship with Jesus, leading to a deeper understanding of His character and promises. By engaging with Him, we find stability and strength in our daily lives. [09:49]
John 15:4-5 (ESV): "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."
Reflection: How can you create space in your daily routine to engage more deeply with Jesus through prayer, study, or worship?
Day 5: A Life of Gratitude and Generosity
Trusting in God invites us to a life of gratitude, generosity, and worship. By placing our trust in Him, we find stability and strength, allowing us to live with a heart full of thankfulness and a spirit of giving. This trust transforms our perspective, enabling us to see God's hand in our lives and respond with worship and generosity. [10:20]
2 Corinthians 9:10-11 (ESV): "He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God."
Reflection: Reflect on how trusting in God has brought stability to your life. How can you express gratitude and generosity in a tangible way this week?
Quotes
The psalmist says in Psalm 20 verses 7 and 8 some put their trust in horses, some put their trusts in chariots, but we put our trust in the name of our God. They will stumble and fall, but we will rise and stand. [00:26:00]
But none of those will bear the weight of a life, and we almost put the weight of our life on something Pascal said that we are launched everybody has to build a life and trusting in the wrong thing will be a source of bitter regret. [00:53:00]
My belief was that that rock was firmly embedded into the Earth and that it would not budge that it would sustain my weight and therefore I could lean against it to push off to rock B but it was a wobbly Rock, it was an insecure rock. [02:07:00]
Can you believe something and be wrong? Oh yes I do it many times every day and so do you. Second question can you know something and be wrong? No you cannot. Sometimes people think you can but they are wrong. To know is something different than to be adamant or to feel certain about something. [03:38:00]
To know something means that I this is Dallas Willard I'm able to accurately represent it think about it speak about it as it really is on the basis of sound reasoning and evidence, that's knowledge. [04:06:00]
Faith, contrary to what a lot of folks will say, is not opposed to knowledge. You went into this idea all the time and increasingly in our day it makes it difficult for people to take their faith in God seriously or to have confidence that Jesus knew what he was talking about. [04:24:00]
So when it comes to Faith everybody lives by faith faith is trust faith is one I depend on something faith is one I rely on something like I was relying on that rock but that rock was not worth the trust that I put in it it was a wobbly Rock. [06:22:00]
Faith needs to be built on knowledge, and over and over and over in the Bible we see this connection between knowledge and Faith rightly understood the prophet Hosea said my people perish for lack of knowledge. [07:09:00]
Trust if it's based on knowledge ultimately needs to lead to commitment, and then when it does, I discover that that trust has been soundly placed, and that this rock this doctor this healer is worthy of my trust. [08:37:00]
It is only through interactive engagement with Jesus, talking with him, listening to him, doing what he said, walking through my life together with him did I discover he is a rock that will hold, he is my rock and my Fortress. [09:49:00]
So today trust him, do what he says as it comes to your mind, be grateful today, be generous today, worship today, jump to the Rock that'll hold you. [10:13:00]
Let's talk for a moment about belief and knowledge and Trust and commitment and wisdom because we're all launched we all got to live a life. [03:26:00]
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