Monday, October 12

Who is the most trustworthy man in America? A New York Times blogger put this question to his readers back in 2006, and he got some really unusual answers. Alan Greenspan got 4 votes (if he had gotten one vote, I'd believe it was a joke, but 4?!), Oprah Winfrey had 6, Bill Clinton had 4, and Warren Buffett led the way with 8. The actual winner, according to a Wikipedia survey, was Walter Cronkite, but I think one responder had the real answer when he said, "God? I mean, we did print up a whole lot of paper that says 'In God We Trust.'" But it seems we Americans put a lot of trust in politicians, or at least in the newsmen who report on the politicians. In today's reading of Psalm 146, we find that we can put our trust only in the Lord. Verses 3-4 say, "Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish." The Lord, however, lives forever, and his will is sovereign. He "made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them" (v. 6). Now that sounds like someone I can trust. Mere months ago, many people were putting their hope in Barack Obama, claiming he had the answer to America's economic and diplomatic issues. Where are those people now? Many would agree Obama has not done anything catastrophic while in office - in fact, he won the Nobel Peace Prize the other day. But, according to Rasmussen Reports, Obama's approval rating has plummeted from 65% to 49% in the last nine months alone. It sure doesn't take people long to change their minds! Is there someone you idolize, or in whom you place all your hope? Maybe it's even a friend or a loved one, who claims they'll always be there for you. But it's the Lord who has a plan for your life - who created you and who knows your thoughts. In these days of idolatry and misplaced trust, make sure your salvation lies in the will of God. "The Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the Lord!" (v. 10).