Trust and Obey

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Have you ever pondered why the hymnwriter paired trust and obey together? How, exactly, are trusting in God and being obedient to Him connected?

When I was in college, a very long time ago, I went to a concert put on by the African Children’s Choir, free of charge. They were amazing! It was all I could do not to sway and clap along with them as they praised God – something I would have done if audience participation had been encouraged.

The freewill offering buckets were passed during intermission to support the choir’s ministry. I had $10 in my wallet, the only money I had to my name at the time. I had nothing in savings, no secret stash under my mattress, not even a change jar I could raid.

“Put that money in the offering.” The prompting of the Holy Spirit was almost audible inside my head. An internal “discussion” (aka argument) ensued.

“But Lord, I’ll be broke, and payday is still a week away.”

“Put the money in the offering.” The ushers were making their way toward my seat in the back.

“Father, I have to have some money to live on.”

“All you have to give is that $10 bill, and I want you to give it all. Trust Me.”

As the bucket made its way down my aisle, I reluctantly surrendered to God and gave Him everything I had. God was testing me, to see whether I really did trust Him enough to obey even when it was hard, even when I couldn’t see what the outcome would be. It was an act of both trusting and obeying.

I’d like to say I’ve won the victory, and chosen obedience, every time my faith has been tested. Even though God proved Himself faithful by sending an unexpected refund in the mail the following Monday, and even though He’s proven Himself trustworthy innumerable times since that day, I’m still prone to distrust and disobedience.

Perhaps you’ve learned, as I have, it’s easier to obey God when we trust Him to take care of us. Philippians 4:19 promises:

 “And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

We find it difficult to obey God if we don’t trust He’ll provide our needs.

It’s also hard to take a stand for Him in this anti-Christian culture if we don’t believe His assurances in Isaiah 55:11:

“So will My word be which goes out of My mouth; It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the purpose for which I sent it.”

And we struggle to set our own agenda to follow God’s lead if we aren’t confident we’re glorifying God and investing in eternity. But we can count on this promise in Galatians 6:9:

“Let’s not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not become weary.”

So, let’s not lose heart. Let’s run the race set before us – trusting in our faithful Father who never breaks His word and obeying our Lord and King who is worthy of our undying allegiance.

               But we never can prove, the delights of His love until all on the altar we lay; For the favor He shows and delight He bestows are for them who will trust and obey.

(Trust and Obey, John H. Sammis)