I. Introduction. Confidence in Princes a. Titus 2:1-10. i. These verses break down responsibilities to different sets of people. 1. Older men, older women, young women, young men, bondservants. 2. Notice the emphasis put on the impact that people have on others. a. Vs. 4, older women admonish younger women. b. Vs. 5, the young women needed to conduct themselves a certain way so that the word of God may not be blasphemed. c. Vs. 7, young men, including Timothy, needed to be a pattern of good works. d. Vs. 10 talks of bondservants adorning the doctrine of God. 3. Each speaks to being an example to others. b. We need godly examples to follow. i. 1 Corinthians 11:1, Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. ii. Philippians 3:17, Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. 1. These examples are a gift from God. 2. He has given us patterns to help us know how we ought to walk. iii. Hebrew 13:7, Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. 1. We desperately need to look out and find godly examples to imitate. 2. And we desperately need to seek to be a godly example so that others might follow us. 3. In the midst of a wicked world, we need strong lights to lead others to the light. c. However, this morning, I want to issue a word of caution: it is important for us to remember to not put our confidence in man. i. Our trust and confidence must be in God. 1. Proverbs 3:5, Trust in the Lord with all your heart. 2. Proverbs 3:26, For the Lord will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught. ii. Micah 7:5,7, Do not trust in a friend; do not put your confidence in a companion Therefore I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; My God will hear me.
iii. Jeremiah 17:5-8, Thus says the Lord: Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit. iv. God must be our confidence, not man. 1. No matter who it is (our mother, our father, our best friend, an elder, the preacher). 2. My trust and confidence must be wholly set upon God. d. Lesson this morning. i. Psalm 118:8-9, It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes. ii. Title of the lesson: Confidence in Princes. iii. We re going to talk about reasons why the Psalmist s statement is true. 1. Reasons to put our trust in God rather than man. 2. Four reasons. II. God will never lie to me. a. I m generally a pretty trusting person. i. I like to believe that people are telling the truth. ii. But I know that people lie. iii. The trick is figuring out who is lying and who s telling the truth. b. That s not always an easy thing to do. i. How many of us have been deceived? ii. 1 Timothy 4:1, Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons. 1. How many Christians have been deceived? c. A world of deception. i. Christians have been deceived by preachers. ii. Friends have been deceived by their friends. iii. Wives have been deceived by their husbands. iv. Children have been deceived by their parents. d. There is only One in whom we can put complete trust.
i. Hebrews 6:18, it is impossible for God to lie. ii. God s word is truth. iii. He has always fulfilled His word, His promises. iv. Therefore, we can put complete trust in Him. III. God will never let me down. a. As we have discussed already, we need good Christian examples. i. These examples are vital to our spiritual growth. ii. It aids us on our journey. b. But I have observed in my life that people we perceive as great can often let us down. i. I can think of no better example than that of preachers. 1. Preachers, as part of their job, explain to us how we are supposed to act. 2. Through their lives, we are supposed to see Christianity lived out. 3. We come to respect these men for their knowledge of the word of God and for the righteousness which we are able to see. ii. However, I have witnessed many preachers who I once respected who have let me down. 1. Their righteousness turned to wickedness. c. The danger is when our faith is tied so closely to these perceived great Christians. i. When they fall, what will happen to us? d. In contrast to men, God is faithful (1 Corinthians 1:9). i. Psalm 9:10, And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You. ii. You can count on God; He will not let us down. IV. God will never leave me. a. People come and go in and out of our lives. i. Some make a little impact on us while others leave a heavy imprint on us. ii. We are filled with sadness when we must part. 1. It may be that we move away ourselves. 2. Or it may be that the one who has made such an impact moves away from us.
iii. Regardless, we must deal with the sad reality that no human relationship lasts forever. 1. Many of us will watch family members pass from this life and leave us behind. 2. The same is true of others who have influenced us so greatly. b. There s no denying the influence of these men and women, i. What happens to our faith when they re gone? ii. If we have placed too much trust in them, what will we do when they ve left us behind? c. The fact that men will leave us is a reason to place our trust in God. i. God will never leave us. ii. He will always be there. iii. Hebrews 13:5, For He Himself has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you. V. God is my judge. a. This is perhaps, the most important reason to trust in God as opposed to man. i. Think about a person who you respect. 1. Most likely you try to behave in such a way that this person will think highly of you. 2. We probably try to live up to their level of conduct because of the respect we have for them. 3. That is certainly a commendable action. ii. However, sometimes we can take this a little far. 1. Maybe a little hero worship. 2. Where our goal is to make people (or a person) think good about us. 3. In Matthew 6, this is what Jesus condemned the Pharisees for. a. They did charitable deeds, made long prayers, fasted so that they might be seen by men. b. Jesus replies and says three times, Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. Matthew 6:2, 5, 16 iii. The point is that no man is our judge, but rather God alone is our judge. 1. This is another reason to put our trust in God as opposed to man. 2. God is really the only One with whom we need to be concerned about whether or not He s pleased with us.
3. 2 Corinthians 5:10, For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body; according to what he has done, whether good or bad. a. This is a fact. b. We will all have to be appear before God in judgment. c. Now look at verse 9. Verse 9 explains how we ought to act because of this fact. 4. 2 Corinthians 5:9, Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. a. Our aim must be to please God. b. It is His judgment of us, and His only, which matters. c. It doesn t matter what man thinks; it only matters what God thinks. VI. Conclusion. a. What s the point of all of this? i. It s all about God. ii. And it s all about one day hearing those blessed words, Enter in to the joy of your Lord. b. Make it your goal to get there. i. Even if you have to make it on your very own. ii. Even if all the world forsakes you. iii. I will walk though the gates of Heaven one day because my eyes are focused wholly on God and His reward.