Being Trustworthy

In review of Proverbs 25:13 this morning it tells me that,  “Reliable friends who do what they say are like cool drinks in the sweltering heat, refreshing!” (The Message.

It is often difficult to find people than can really be trusted. A faithful and reliable friend is punctual, responsible, honest, and hardworking. Such people are invaluable as they help take some of the pressure off. I need to be trustworthy and find out what my friends need and do what I can to make their jobs easier. 

If I want to be happy, then I should become somebody that people can trust.

Paul uses Timothy as an example of this: “You know the kind of person Timothy is. You know he has served with me in telling the Good News, as a son serves his father” (Philippians 2:22 NCV).

Paul had seen Timothy in action, in all kinds of circumstances, and Paul considered him genuine, trustworthy, and reliable. Another translation of Philippians 2:22 says, “You know what kind of person Timothy proved to be” (GW). Do people know what kind of person I really am? Have I been proven trustworthy like Timothy?

When going to a bank for a loan, they do a credit check. They want to know if you’re worthy of being trusted with credit. Do you pay your bills on time? Do you have a track record of keeping your word? Will you pay this money back? Are you dependable and creditable and reliable?

The thing is, everybody around me is doing a credit check on me every moment of my life. They want to know if I am what I say I am. Am I the real deal? Am I showing my true colors? Can I be trusted?

To be happy in my relationships and in life, I need to be a trustworthy and reliable person. To develop a reputation of reliability, I need to:

First, live with integrity. Integrity doesn’t mean I’m perfect. It means what is seen is what others get. The real deal, because my actions match my words.

Second, I keep my promises. Psalm 15:4 says, “They always do what they promise, no matter how much it may cost” (GNT).

Learning to live with integrity and keeping my promises will show others that I can be trusted and it will also make me a much happier person.

In summary, a reliable friend will do what they say, which becomes like a cool drink in the sweltering heat. They are faithful, reliable, punctual, responsible, honest and hardworking. When they do so, they help take the pressure off. I need to strive to be trustworthy. I can find out what others need and do it to ease their burden. Do others know what kind of person I am? Have I proven to be trustworthy to them? Much like a bank does a credit check when you want to borrow, everyone around me is doing a credit check on me. Am I what I say I am? Can I be trusted? To be trustworthy and reliable, I need to live with integrity, so that what is seen is what others get. Secondly, I need to keep my promises, no matter the cost. Learning to live with integrity and keeping my promises will show others that I can be trusted.

As I reflect on God’s Word and what this devotion has pointed out, it’s important for me to continue to put integrity first in my life. This is followed by always keeping my promises, no matter the cost it may have to me. Father I pray for your Spirit to help me continue to put integrity first in my life. Remind me of any promises I may have made and to keep them. I also ask you Father for wisdom and guidance for my day, my leadership and my interactions with others. I pray these things through your Son Jesus Name, Amen.