TrustWorthySample

Day 4: When to Stop and When to Proceed (Red and Green Lights)

Congratulations! We’re on day four which means after today, you’ll be over halfway through this plan. I hope that so far, you’ve learned about whom you can always trust—God! Today, we’re focusing on how you can discern which people you can trust and why.

First, let’s focus on when we shouldn’t give someone our trust—the red lights. (Hopefully) when you see a red light, you stop.

The Bible gives us plenty of wisdom regarding whom we shouldn’t associate with. In Proverbs 22:24-25 (ESV) it says, “Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.”

And this isn’t the only time God’s Word mentions the danger of anger. It says be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry in James 1:19-20 and to rid ourselves of anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language in Colossians 3:8.

Anger is a human emotion we all experience. But if someone continuously gives him or herself over to anger, we should not associate with them, and we definitely should not put our trust in them.

There are plenty more reasons not to put our trust in individuals, probably enough to write an entire YouVersion plan about! But for the sake of time, let’s move on to green lights—when we can put our trust in others.

If you haven’t already, read Proverbs 27:17. This verse sums up green lights perfectly! Iron sharpens iron. Friends sharpen friends. Those you associate with should sharpen you, not make you duller—both mentally and spiritually. They should benefit your life, and you should benefit theirs!

Whom are you associating with? Whom are you putting your trust in? It’s been said that you are who you surround yourself with . . . so, who are you?