Faith in a Chair (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Trust has become just another word in the english vernacular. It used to be that trust was the ultimate idea in America. Faith is another word that can be used to describe trust. As Christians, this is a word with a little more familiarity. I had a friend who went to Africa to Preach the Gospel. He was trying to define faith to the local peoples because they had no word for it. Just as he is fumbling for the words one of the people from the village come into the hut where he is trying to define faith. The person was so tired that they leaned on the back of a chair and said, "I am so tired, I need this chair to hold me up." Just then, my friend had the idea to define faith as such. He told the people of the village that faith in God is like leaning on the back of a chair; when you are so tired and you cannot go on you need something to support you.

I God that chair of our lives?

"Lean on, trust and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind, and do not rely on you own insight or understanding." Proverbs 3:5, Amplified

Trust in the Lord should be our ultimate. There is no greater thing than trust. As we go about our daily tasks, trust is an issue that is so common we do not even realize it. When we go to the grocery store, we trust that when we buy the peanut butter that there is actually peanut butter in the jar. Buying a car, we trust that it is going to continue working for the next few years. We trust our waitresses, teachers and politicians, but can we trust the Lord? Is God that chair in our lives?

Over the years trust has been so closely associated with sight, smell, taste, feeling and hearing that some do not associate it with God. But faith on the other hand has been so disassociated with the five senses. I ask, what is the difference between faith and trust? Nothing.

This trust in the Lord needs to be whole heartedly as well. To rely on oneself negates the need for an outside Savior. If we do not need the Lord when buying a car or a house or to watch over our finances, then why do we need Him at all?

"In all your ways know, recognize and acknowledge Him, He will direct and make straight and plain your paths." Proverbs 3:6, Amplified

As we begin to trust the Lord with everything, then He will begin a work in us. In everything that we do we need to acknowledge Him and he will begin a work in us.

Just as the member of the village who came into the hut and acknowledged his need for the chair to support him, we too need to acknowledge the Lord when He supports us. As a result, the path laid out for us becomes much clearer. Think of it like a walkie-talkie. As we get closer to the other unit, the voice becomes clearer and clearer, easier to understand and discern. Do you see where I am going with this? Seek the Lord and listen to the Lord; as that relationship develops, then His voice becomes clearer and and easier to discern.