Who Will We Trust?

Have you ever wished that you could go back in time and change something? We could think about things in our life that we would change. Maybe things in history, like make sure Hitler never became in charge of Germany. Stop the Civil War from happening. Make sure slavery was not allowed under the Constitution. All sorts of things.

Have you ever wanted to change a trust situation? You wished that you had trusted something else. You were falling off a cliff and you should have grabbed the vine to the right instead of the one to the left. That is an extreme example…

I’m not going to ask you to tell what you could change.

Sometimes, I wish that I could go back and change what Adam and Eve did at the beginning of time. They decided to not trust God and to do their own thing. God said that he would provide for everything that they needed, and they said: “Nope. I’m going to trust my own reason and this talking snake instead of you.”

But, when I wish that I could change their decision, I realize that it wouldn’t be worth it. You see, humanity has consistently turned to the wrong things to trust.

1 Corinthians 1:26–31 NIV

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

Pray

1A. Humanity has consistently turned to the wrong things to trust

Humanity has consistently turned to the wrong things to trust.

When they stand before a line-up of God and everything else, they consistently turn to the “everything else.” We know this is true, because we do it too, from an early age.

Consider the typical high school student. What does he or she base her emotional security on? How people view her or how they treat him. When you talk to a typical high school student, what do they base their future career on? Money or the prestige that comes from it.

And this doesn’t change. So much of our culture is up in arms on the concept of CRT, whether they are for it or against it, they are up in arms. The whole system of CRT is based on who has power and who doesn’t.

Humanity doesn’t change in what they pursue.

1B. What do they turn to?

What do we turn to? Great question. Paul lists three things that humans turn to instead of God, three things which are pretty universal.

1 Corinthians 1:26 NIV

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.

His list here is very interesting, especially if you look up the passage he refers to at the end of the paragraph.

1 Corinthians 1:31 NIV

Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

Paul is quoting from Jeremiah 9:23-24

Jeremiah 9:23–24 NIV

This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.

Both Jeremiah and Paul list three areas that humans tend to run to instead of God.

1C. Wisdom

First, they trust in wisdom. This isn’t a reference to Godly wisdom. This is a reference to human intellect.

This is the person who says: you must prove to me the existence of God, for if I cannot understand it with my mind, I cannot accept it as true.

This is the person who will not humbly listen to someone else in a discussion but quickly forces his own understanding into the mix.

Humans have always sought understanding. And they have always sought it within their own mind. In the 1700s, this became heightened. People thought advancement came through knowledge. If someone wasn’t educated, they couldn’t become anything of worth.

This is still in play, as many people will make education and school activities of a higher priority than church and fellowship, exulting homework over discipleship.

Wisdom

2C. Strength

Humans also trust in strength. While Jeremiah uses the term strength, Paul uses the term influential. This term doesn’t merely speak of physical strength, but strength of position.

Humans think that if they can have authority or if people look up to them, life will be good.

Everyone wants to be the one that people respect rather than the one that people bully. So, they try to work up the ladder of whatever career they are in. They run for public office. They become pastors. They do what they have to receive some sort of status.

They want worth. They want a safety net, so they turn to strength.

But strength just disappoints, because there is always someone higher up.

3C. Wealth

The third category is wealth. Jeremiah calls it riches. Paul ties it to one’s family. He says: noble birth. These are people who have not worked for their money but are born into it. They cannot consider life apart from money.

They believe that with money anything can happen. They can buy happiness and joy. They can supply all their needs. If there is a problem, just throw money at it.

Even people who are not born into money can fall into this trap. They believe that happiness can be found if they just had a little more. Which is why everyone flocks to jobs that pay more. That is why people become workaholics, because money will solve their problems.

Wisdom, strength, and wealth. These standards remain in our culture. They determine who is “in” in school and who is “out”. They are the root of all advertising campaigns. And unfortunately, many churches fall prey to these three areas.

2B. What do they provide?

Why do people turn to these? Because for some reason, they believe that wisdom, strength, and wealth will provide something for them. But, unfortunately, these are empty promises.

Solomon wrote:

Proverbs 9:13–18 NIV

Folly is an unruly woman; she is simple and knows nothing. She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city, calling out to those who pass by, who go straight on their way, “Let all who are simple come to my house!” To those who have no sense she says, “Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!” But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.

We could look at Lot who cast his gaze on the nicer portion of land, settling in the town of Sodom, which would soon be destroyed by fire from heaven.

We could look at Saul who refused to wait for Samuel to sacrifice but took matters in his own hands.

We could look at Judas who was more interested in 30 pieces of silver than the man who had the words of life.

We could talk about Absalom, Solomon, Ahab and Ahaz. We could talk about so many Biblical figures who placed their faith in all these things, believing the lie, but in the end realizing that it was only a lie.

Anything we turn to besides God, never provides what we think it will provide.

3B. So why do they turn to it?

So, why do we want to turn to these things? What possesses us if we know that they will not provide what we want?

Well, because, truthfully, we are not turning to wealth, wisdom, or strength to trust in. We are turning to ourselves.

Adam and Eve did not eat the fruit of the tree because they thought the fruit would provide what they needed. They thought they could provide what they needed.

This is what is called pride. I can provide, and I can exist, I can know apart from God. I can be God in my own life.

Paul writes:

1 Corinthians 1:28–29 NIV

God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.

When we think that we can provide for ourselves. When we think that we can only trust in ourselves. When we think that we can save ourselves, we are allowing room for us to boast in ourselves rather than God.

We are following in the footsteps of Adam and Eve, and we will not get a different result than they did.

Whenever we think that we are the only ones we can trust, and we push God out of the equation, messes happen.

We can look at Biblical examples, or we could look at our own lives. We’ve all been there. We’ve all thought that we could live on our own, make our own decisions, live with priorities above God. And we have woken up to a mess of a life. Everything is unraveling.

Because we have turned to the wrong things to trust.

So what do we do?

2A. To whom should we turn to trust

We remember to whom we should trust.

1 Corinthians 1:30–31 NIV

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

God in Christ has brought about a reversal of what humans exult, such as wisdom, strength, and wealth. He calls us to ditch all those things to the curb and trust in him alone, for life for salvation

1B. God in Christ Jesus

We should trust in God. Why? Because he sent his son Jesus Christ to earth so that his son would die for us.

Just to place this all out, we know that we didn’t deserve this. We know that we are all sinners, described as God’s enemies. Hopelessly lost for all eternity.

If we were God and our enemies were doomed for destruction, we would have a party and watch them slowly drop into the abyss. We might say, “no, I wouldn’t do that…” But what do we want done to the enemies of the United States?

God reached out to his enemies and provided a way of reconciliation. Not only did he reach out to his enemies, but he reached out to those the world considers nothing. And said: I want to save you.

Not because of wealth, or wisdom, or strength. God gave his salvation as a free gift. He gives self-acceptance and his own acceptance, setting aside guilt; and makes all kinds of persons somethings or someones, setting aside shame.

So, instead of thinking that we are something, let’s just admit that we are not, and turn to God who has proven that he can be trusted.

2B. what does he provide?

If we turn to him, what does he provide? Let’s read what Paul said:

1 Corinthians 1:30 NIV

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

1C. He provides righteousness

God, when we turn to him in Christ Jesus, gives us righteousness.

This is not simply a moral virtue, but it is “divine acquittal.”

This is what is spoken of in Romans 3

Romans 3:21–24 NIV

But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

As we said, we believe that everyone is a sinner. No one can stand up and say that they are perfect.

Everyone falls short of God’s standard. We are all the same in need of mercy, to be forgiven and be free.

When we turn to Jesus Christ in faith, believing on him alone for our salvation, we are given righteousness.

Another word which is tied to this is justification.

We are in tax season. People are preparing finances and balancing budgets.

God looks at our budget. He sees all our debt, which is our sin, and he doesn’t apply it to our account. Our sins equal zero in God’s eyes.

Not only that, but God takes Jesus’ righteousness and applies that to our account.

So, not only do we walk around sinless, but we walk around good.

So, when we live our life and everyone around us says that we are not good enough, that we don’t meet their standard for popularity or success, that we will not be worth anything in life. We can stand up and say: But God in Christ Jesus has chosen me and has declared that I have worth, that I am loved and accepted.

God provides righteousness.

2C. He provides sanctification

He also provides sanctification.

1 Corinthians 1:30 NIV

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

The NIV translates this as holiness.

It is an important term for Paul. Sanctification, holiness, sainthood, they are all tied together. It speaks of bringing into nearness to God through God’s work.

When we turn to Jesus in faith, not only are we declared righteous, but we are given a home. We are purified and set apart as one invited to the amazing place of intimacy with God. We are marked by his name through Jesus Christ.

Paul refers to this position in Ephesians.

Ephesians 2:19–22 NIV

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

This term speaks of having a place of belonging. God says “you are mine, join my family.”

About a month ago, I gave an illustration of a mother telling her children to go outside and play, but that they were to not play in the mud. They did, and she said that they couldn’t come inside unless they had cleaned themselves off. They were doomed to be stuck outside all night.

God takes us who are dirty, not able to enter the clean house. He washes us off with the blood of Jesus Christ. He purifies us so that we can come in. He leads us by the hand and says: Welcome home. You are mine.

I once was lost but now am found. Was blind but now I see. Amazing grace.

God provides righteousness. We are accepted.

God provides sanctification. We have a new identity, a place to belong.

3C. He provides redemption

Finally, he provides redemption. Our verse for this half of the sermon:

1 Corinthians 1:30 NIV

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

Redemption: I need to camp on this for a little bit.

There are three parts to this term:

First, there is liberation from some state of bondage, jeopardy, suffering, or humiliation.

I need a volunteer. Put on handcuffs

You are in chains. If I let you out of these chains, will I have redeemed you? Nope.

The second part to this term requires some act of personal cost.

So, will anyone pay me $5000 to let ____out of the handcuffs? Anyone? Now, if they pay me and I let you out of the chains, have they redeemed you? Nope.

There is a third part to this term. Where you receive freedom from this bondage to serve someone else.

So, if he pays me and I let you out of your handcuffs and you commit to serving that person for the rest of your life, have you been redeemed? Yes.

I’ll take my $5000 now.

Paul is later going to say:

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 NIV

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

Salvation does not mean that we can do anything we want. Salvation means that we follow the one who has saved us. We honor him.

The end result of redemption is glorification. Our redemption is finally realized when we stand before the throne of God and he says “welcome into your rest.”

We are living in our redemption now, seeking to honor God with our bodies. But, as we live now, we remember the day to come when we will honor him without a fight.

God provides righteousness. We are accepted.

God provides sanctification. We have a new identity.

God provides redemption. Freedom from everything that chained us and a purpose to live.

3B. Why should we turn to him

Well, he is worth it. He has proven that he is worth.

Our lives have proven that everything else that we turn to are not worth it. So, why don’t we give him a shot?

I am speaking to two audiences. I am speaking to those who haven’t trusted in Jesus for their salvation. There are plenty of people who go to church who have never made the decision for themselves to follow Jesus. They just think that they are good.

However, by never making that decision, they are trusting in something other than God.

There are some people who say: I believe in God. However, they have never made the decision to trust in Jesus for their salvation. The Bible says that the demons believe in God and they tremble.

Everyone must make a decision for themselves to trust in Jesus for their salvation.

If you have not done that, may today be the day.

The second audience I am speaking to are those who have placed their faith in Jesus for salvation. However, for some reason, in life they still trusting in human wisdom, strength, and wealth to carry them through.

If this is you, stop it, repent, and change your priorities.

By depending on him, we can fulfill the last verse in our text:

1 Corinthians 1:31 NIV

Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

He alone is worth it.

Instead of turning to the wrong things to trust, let us trust in God alone.