Stupid Christian Cliches: Part 1

"Just trust God..."

Last February, I had lunch with my good friend, Nick, and it seemed like the whole world was crumbling down on top of him. This particular week he had two major papers due. At the same time, he was going through a painful break of friendship with someone close. On top of that, he still had the usual meetings and responsibilities that came with being a small group leader. Classes continued, his job remained, and time was against him. To top all of this off, a well-meaning Christian told him, "Nick, just trust God..."

Just trust God.

Because He is going to write your papers for you. Because He is going to go talk to your friend to resolve all those differences that have been piling up. Because He is going to be your substitution for classes, work, meetings, and He'll even teach your small group this week. Just trust Him.

My mother is a Let-Go-and-Let-God Christian. She has a sign hanging up in the house with these very words. Footprints is on the wall in the kitchen while a framed "Trust God" is sitting by her bed. Year by year, my mother's disabilities increase. With each passing year her depravity grows and any semblance of a spiritual life decreases towards non-existence. For all of my mother's life she has been waiting to "trust God". This is the mantra she repeats: "just trust God".

Trusting God is not a waiting game. You don't wait all your life trusting God and he just shows up one day at your front door.

So what does it really mean to trust God? Sacrifice.

"Are they servants of Christ?...I more so;

in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death.

Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.
Three times I was beaten with rods,
once I was stoned,
three times I was shipwrecked,
a night and a day I have spent in the deep.

I have been on frequent journeys,

in dangers from rivers,
dangers from robbers,
dangers from my countrymen,
dangers from the Gentiles,
dangers in the city,
dangers in the wilderness,
dangers on the sea,
dangers among false brethren;

I have been in labor and hardship,

through many sleepless nights,
in hunger and thirst,
often without food,
in cold and exposure.

Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches." (II Corinthians 11:23-28)

Paul sacrificed everything, this was the proof of his trust in God. And guess what, God ALWAYS saw him through.

On the night of Jesus' arrest, He prayed in Gethsemane. He was so distressed about His upcoming death that his sweat poured out like drops of blood. A decision was in front of Him. All of the Old Testament climaxed here in this moment. Promises had been given time and time again by God concerning the coming events of the next 3 days and beyond. Sacrifice on Jesus' part was absolutely necessary for God to pour out the blessings promised from thousands of years passed. Or, Jesus could walk away from it all, preserve Himself, and live out the rest of His life. Because He trusted God and His Word, Jesus made the decision to sacrifice, saying,

"Abba!
Father!
All things are possible for You;
remove this cup from Me;
yet not what I will, but what You will."
(Mark 14:36)

Sacrifice is essential to trusting God.

When I sacrifice my life to God, I am saying, "God I trust You that what you have spoken about my hope, abundant life, and your blessings is true." This is the life that God blesses abundantly, namely, the life poured out to Him.

To sacrifice your time to serve others is to trust that God will transform their heart.
To sacrifice an hour of your day to enjoy relationship with God is to trust God that the other 23 hours He gives will be enough.
To sacrifice your money at church is to trust God to multiply what is left to provide for your needs.
To sacrifice food and drink is to trust God to be the sustaining bread and water of life. (This, by the way, is called fasting)
To sacrifice your comfort is to trust God that what He has given you is enough.
What are you sacrificing on the altar in light of your trust in God?

Sacrifice is our duty. Where we end, God's work begins.
Man is responsible for the natural, God does the supernatural.

One final word on trusting God: this is the means by which we fulfill the Great Commission.

"But thanks be to God,
who always leads us in triumph in Christ,
and manifests through us the sweet aroma
of the knowledge of Him in every place.

For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing;

to the one an aroma from death to death,
to the other an aroma from life to life."
(II Corinthians 2:14-16)

The sweet aroma of the believer's sacrifice to God results in the gospel being preached everywhere. The chosen are brought in by the fragrant smell of salvation. The doomed are repulsed by the stench, leaving all without excuse.