Subscription Lists

Today's Little Lift

    by Jim Bullington

You Trusted In Your Own Way (Hosea 10.13)
Date Posted: September 14, 2020

It is safe to say that almost everyone trusts in someone or something. A skeptic might say that he trusts in no one, but chances are good that his mistrust is not as universal as he would have us believe. He may not believe in [trust in] doctors, politicians, lawyers, preachers, and a thousand other entities that he names, but chances are far better than even that he really does trust in someone. God spoke to His people through Hosea and observed the following: “You have plowed wickedness; You have reaped iniquity. You have eaten the fruit of lies, Because you trusted in your own way, In the multitude of your mighty men.” (Hosea 10.13; NKJV).

It was clear that God’s people did not trust Him. Their actions made it abundantly clear that His word meant almost nothing to this wayward people. Hosea had called upon them to, “Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy,” and to, “Break up your fallow [unused] ground.” These metaphors were used in a spiritual sense and had nothing to do with agriculture. His instructions were straightforward and demanded that Israel return from her wickedness and seek the face of the Living God. Their reaction was just the opposite of what God desired! Rather than sow righteousness and reap mercy, they plowed wickedness and reaped iniquity! Contrary to being the skeptics which they professed to be, they really did trust someone, but it was a trust in self rather than God.

Eve did not trust God, but she trusted the serpent and her own judgment. Cain did not trust God but he trusted in his own ability to right what he perceived to be a wrong. Joseph’s brothers did not trust their earthly father or their Heavenly Father, but they trusted in lies and deceit to put the dreamer in his place! In the matter of Bathsheba, David trusted in self and hypocrisy more than He trusted in God’s ability to provide what was good for him. Take any case of willful sin, and it is not a matter of not trusting that lies at the root; it is a matter of not trusting the right thing or person outside of oneself! Trusting in self is a sure way to come to no good end. Jeremiah knew this principle well and emphasized it by saying, “O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.” (Jeremiah 10.23).

The Psalmist spoke truthfully when he said, “Uphold my steps in Your paths, That my footsteps may not slip.” (Psalm 17.5). Again he wrote, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way.” (Psalm 37.23). It is true that the blessed man is one who delights in the way of the Lord and who refuses to occupy the seat of the doubter when it comes to God’s word (see Psalm 1). The good man recognizes that his direction must come from a source outside himself else he is doomed to repeat the same mistakes as the generations that went before him. He understands that wisdom, if limited to one’s own experiences, is sure to fail in life’s most critical points. This was Solomon’s failure when it came to his experiences as recorded in the book of Ecclesiastes; his experiences told him conflicting and frequently erroneous answers! His experiences show us that the right answers already exist in God’s Word without our having to attempt to find them out experientially.

From another era, famed radio comedian, Fred A. Allen, is credited with saying, “Most of us spend the first six days of each week sowing wild oats; then we go to church on Sunday and pray for a crop failure.” I am not sure about the absolute accuracy of his quip, but it certainly resonates with much of our human behavior. The only reward of which a man who trusts in himself is guaranteed is the reward that he alone can guarantee! Disappointment will come because, “You trusted in your own way!”

Questions:

1. How does man’s way differ from God’s way? Is man’s way ever better in the short term?

2. Is man’s way ever more pleasant in the short term? Why did you answer the way you did?

3. Is man’s way ever better or more pleasant than God’s in the long term?

4. What indicators can be seen when a man trusts in himself more than he trusts in God? How does this condition compare to the Solomon’s condition as depicted in most of the book of Ecclesiastes?

"Today's Little Lift" from Jim Bullington

Mercy and not Sacrifice (Sept. 24, 2010)

Read Article »
Biography Information:
Jim Bullington - A Christian writer whose insight into the scriptures is reflected in practical application lessons in every article. The reader will find that the Bible speaks directly to him/her through these articles. God is always exalted and His word is treated with the utmost respect in this column.
Got Something to Share?
LiveAsIf.org is always looking for new writers. Whether it is a daily devotional or a weekly article, if you desire to encourage others to know Him better, then signup to become a contributor.