"Trust In The LORD And Do Good"

By Jay Pearson

My prayer for us is: Lord open our eyes to see what you would have us to see and prepare our hearts to follow, trusting in you.

It seems easy to see others' faults when we compare them to our right ways. And we seem to know immediately how they should change and be more like us. This shoe fits me perfectly and maybe some of you, if you have ever stepped into that shoe upon occasion. I think we would do best if we mind our own business, fret not, and trust in the LORD and do good. Proverbs 3:5 comes to mind.

Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

I would like to look at Psalm 37 and the Lord’s instructions on trusting him and doing good. Also consider to whom does this business belong?

Psalm 37:1
Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

Before we can expect to trust the Lord and do good, we need to mind our own business, defined as our rightful concern or responsibility. This has always been a problem with the flesh of man. Adam quickly threw Eve under the bus: "She did it! She gave me of the tree and I did eat!" ["To throw under the bus" is an idiomatic phrase in American English meaning to betray a friend or ally for selfish reasons.]

In Deuteronomy 29 we learn the secret things belong to God.

Deuteronomy 29:29
The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

We occasionally tend to want to know the secret things before they are revealed to us.

John 21:22
Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.

Seems we need to mind our business.

Acts 1:7
And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

Our business is to witness by word and deed. It is not our business to add to the church. We may welcome, invite, encourage, but not prod or put down their decision. The Lord is a leader, not a pusher. He opens their eyes and they follow.

Acts 2:47b
And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

We trust in the Lord, speak his word and do as he commands. The Lord saves. That is his business.

There are 9 specific commands given in Psalms 37, I have listed below. They refer to our business to do. The verses in between these are statements of consequences and benefits of obedience and pertain to the Lord’s business.

1	Fret not, neither be envious
2	Trust in the LORD and do good
4	Delight thyself in the Lord
5	Commit thy way unto the Lord, trust also in him
7	Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him
8	Cease from anger, and forsake wrath
27	Depart from evil and do good
34	Wait on the LORD and keep his way
37	Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright

The last two verses summarize the Lord's business or concern and responsibility.

39	the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord
40	the LORD shall help them, and deliver them

Please Psalm 37 in its entirety looking for the things that are ours to do, and the things that belong to the Lord.

We can be much more effective in our ministry before the Lord by minding our business and applying our efforts of desiring to see others change, to changing ourselves through the Spirit.  Presenting ourselves before the Lord to be changed, trusting him and doing good as he directs. The Lord works in us to will and do his good pleasure, and not our own. As I said earlier, this shoe of not minding my own business fits me perfectly. I thank God for working in me to change. I love you all, and know the Lord works in you also.

My desire for our church and yours is expressed in Ephesians 4:

Ephesians 4:1-3
1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

May we trust the Lord and do good. AMEN.

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Presented May 17, 2020 in French Settlement, Louisiana