The Outcome of Trusting Wrong Things
Daily Old Testament Reading: Jeremiah 47-49
Daily Focus Passage: Jeremiah 48
The prophet Jeremiah declared the message to several nations that their reliance on and trust in their power, success, and material wealth would lead to their destruction. The word used for the destructive outcome shows something shattering into many pieces. The same word means to be terrified and discouraged. The prophet proclaimed that reliance upon anything but the Lord would lead to a life of fear and discouragement because the outcome would lead to being shattered. This truth remains true today.
Trusting in the Wrong Things
People seek to find belonging, purpose, and meaning in life. According to the world's metrics, this pursuit often leads people to seek meaning and purpose from their successes, power, and stability. People find their identity in their successes and power. They find their purpose in feeding the ego and the self. When these wrong things become the basis of trust, then life is shattered instantly because of their frail nature.
When we trust in the wrong things, we have a foundational problem. We attempt to build our lives on uncertainty and begin to overestimate our abilities, authority, and strength. When we structure our lives on the wrong things, we neglect to set our lives on the solid foundation of the Lord. As Jesus told in the Sermon on the Mount, a life built upon sand will shatter while the life built upon the rock will stand.
The Wrong Things Lead to a Defeated Life
People will never experience genuine joy, peace, or certainty when they attempt to structure their lives on the wrong things. They will constantly seek the next thing to construct their life on because the wrong things are temporary and failing. The constant pursuit of a new foundation will leave one defeated and discouraged. This discouragement and defeat ultimately become the shattered life that cannot stand.
When we attempt to trust in the things of this world, we become easily discouraged and frustrated. We become driven by the flesh and pursue fulfillment in this world. Unfortunately, this approach to life will never be stable or lead to life. Thus, we must strive not to fall prey to the discouragement and defeat that comes when we build our lives on the wrong things.
The One True Thing to Trust In
The Lord must be the one true foundation for our lives. He must be where we place all of our trust. He must be the strength we need and our genuine wealth. He must be the center of our success and receive the glory. We must seek to find our identity and purpose in the Lord. God is the one true thing we must trust in.
When you consider your life, where are you seeking identity? How are you defining success? What is the foundation of your life?
