Trust is a very fragile thing that needs care not to break. Once broken, trust is difficult to restore, and might not even be restored to its original state prior to breaking. We wouldn't want to break the trust someone places on us.
Many of us, however, break a person's trust in one way or another. Since trust is a delicate thing, we must take extra effort to avoid breaking it.
This article is meant to help every reader to avoid breaking somebody's trust. As Christians, we must be trustworthy enough - both to God and the people we bring the Gospel to.
Three ways Christians break a person's trust
Here are a few ways we break the trust somebody places on us, knowingly and unknowingly.
1) By breaking our own words
When we go against our own words, we give others a reason not to trust us. Many of us are guilty at this: saying something, and then doing something else. What we do may not be the exact opposite of what we have said, but the point is that we break our own words, and lie in the process.
Psalm 34:12-13 warns us,
"Who is the man who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit."
2) By gossiping
Gossiping is one sure way to break a person's trust. After all, who would trust someone who goes about and spreads secrets as if it's something everyone needs to hear?
The Bible warns us about the dangers that trusting in gossips bring:
- "He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips." (Proverbs 20:19)
- "The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, and they go down into the inmost body." (Proverbs 18:8)
- "A talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter." (Proverbs 11:13)
- "An ungodly man digs up evil, and it is on his lips like a burning fire. A perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer separates the best of friends. A violent man entices his neighbor, and leads him in a way that is not good. He winks his eye to devise perverse things; He purses his lips and brings about evil." (Proverbs 16:27-30)
3) By committing sin
One more way we break people's trust is when we tarnish our testimonies by committing sin. Of course we aren't perfect, but when we commit sin people might start to think differently about us.
As Christians, we ought to follow Christ the Lord in all that we do. This includes our decision-making and our manner of talk. The Lord Jesus did not commit any sin, and as His ambassadors we ought to be careful not to commit any sin as well.
People will look to us as Christ-followers, and we ought to do that well to the glory of God.
