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It is Better to Trust People than Not to Trust
"Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God!"
Ephesians 4:30-32
What a profound statement! The thought that our BIG GOD could be affected in such a way by something we do. Can we upset God so much that the Spirit of God can become grieved?
Time and again the Bible describes God being grieved by what the community of faith does or does not do. God is an enigmatic personal God who desires a personal and intimate relationship with us.
This makes God sensitive to what we do and say to Him and to one another.
Paul notes the things that grieve God and the things that bless God. Both relate to the way we treat one another as the community of faith.
The Holy Spirit is grieved when the community allows destructive attitudes to have free reign in its community life. These include things like bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, slander and malice. Paul tells us to put away these things as they are destructive to our personal life, the life of our Christian community and our intimate relationship with God.
Rather, Paul tells us to do things that will grow and nurture our relationship with God and with one another. We are to be kind to one another. We are to have a tender heart.
Robert Schuller says "It is more psychologically healthy to trust people than to not trust. Even when people have let you down time after time, it is more healthy to trust than to not trust." Finally Paul notes that we are to forgive one another. God knows there will be times when people will do and say things that hurt. We are to forgive them. Forgiveness is for our benefit not theirs. It enables us to remain focused, vibrant and committed to God's purpose for our lives.
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