Don't Place Absolute Trust in People

This morning, I'd watched the inauguration of our country's next president. In his speech, he told of his administration's crusade against "evil" forces to combat corruption in government. All around the world (not just in my country), corruption, theft, violence, murder, adultery etc are terrible reminders of the dark side of human nature. As author G.K. Chesterton observed, the experience and data of media news are all proofs of the reality of biblical "original sin" in humankind.

Personally, I used to be extraordinarily trusting. Later I realized that only expecting good from man leaves me partially blind. I needed to learn the hard way how to humbly discern good and evil in persons and act accordingly. No matter how much I tried to be culturally sensitive or kind to people, evil still does its work.

The "separating of good and evil passes not through states, classes, or political parties but right through every human heart," says Alexander Solzhenitsyn, "and even in the best of human hearts, there is still a small corner of evil."

Adding to people's blindness and brokenness is our society's emphasis on "tolerance" and "multiculturalism." You have your own way. I have my own way. "Right and wrong" has become all a matter of perspective. Because of this, we lose our ability to detect and pass moral judgment on evil acts.

A key to understanding and freedom in our lives is a biblical view of the human heart. Don't place absolute trust in people. Absolute trust and ultimacy belongs only to God.

"Thus says the Lord: Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord" (Jeremiah 17:5).

"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ" (Romans 6:23).