Loving Others by Being Trustworthy

You don’t trust me! We’ve all probably heard it, felt it, or said it. And when a child is saying it to you, the automatic response we’ve learned from generations before us comes: You have to earn trust.

Trust is one of the basic pillars of any healthy, mature relationship, and it has to be given and earned by both parties. In order for intimacy to grow, both sides must prove themselves trustworthy, as in loyal, faithful, confidential, and sincere.

Love is always supportive,
loyal, hopeful, and trusting.
1 Corinthians 13:7 (CEV)

As we tell our kids they have to earn our trust, we need to take a good look at ourselves to see if we are being good role models and trustworthy persons for them. When we see their weaknesses, do we mock them on social media or around other people? When they tell us their secrets, do we keep them confidential? When they see us interact with our friends, do we gossip about others? Do they see us not telling the whole truth to our spouses? Do we even say, “Don’t tell your father/mother”?

In two different parables, Jesus speaks of being faithful with what we have been given (Matthew 25:29; Luke 16:10-11). While the examples he gives refer to financial matters, the principle can apply to all possessions, including valuable relationships.

We can ask the Lord to show us where our blind spots are concerning our trustworthiness and how we treat others. Then we must acknowledge where we have gone wrong, repent, apologize, and work towards being better.

PRAY

Father God, you are the only one who is perfectly trustworthy. Make me more like you. Show me where I am failing others and help me to be and do better. Show me how to teach being trustworthy to my children. Amen.

TIME TO TALK

Conversation starter for kids: Provides you with questions and prompts to facilitate a time of applicable discussion with children to lead them towards knowing God and His Word more deeply.

Question(s): What things make it hard to trust other people? Do you trust me? How can we trust each other more?

Apply: Especially with older children, be sure you are showing your trustworthiness by carefully listening to what they are saying without jumping to conclusions.

KEEP IT GOING

Related passages: These additional verses will help parents expand Scriptural knowledge and place on the armor of God’s Word to tackle each day. Swipe to read the passages today.

Proverbs 11:13

Luke 16:10