ON THE MONEY

 

We all deal with money.  We deal with dollars and end up with change in our pockets.  American money has a common phrase found on it that is an important reminder to us as Christians.

 

“The motto IN GOD WE TRUST was placed on United States coins largely because of the increased religious sentiment existing during the Civil War. Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase received many appeals from devout persons throughout the country, urging that the United States recognize the Deity on United States coins…IN GOD WE TRUST first appeared on the 1864 two-cent coin… The use of IN GOD WE TRUST has not been uninterrupted.  

 

“A law passed by the 84th Congress (P.L. 84-140) and approved by the President on July 30, 1956, the President (Eisenhower) approved a Joint Resolution of the 84th Congress, declaring IN GOD WE TRUST the national motto of the United States. IN GOD WE TRUST was first used on paper money in 1957, when it appeared on the one-dollar silver certificate. The first paper currency bearing the motto entered circulation on October 1, 1957.”

http://www.ustreas.gov/education/fact-sheets/currency/in-god-we-trust.html

 

We don’t know how much longer the national motto will be “In God we trust”.  Nor do we know how much longer the phrase “In God we trust” will be on our currency.

 

But we do not need “In God we trust” to be on the currency or the national motto for us to make it our own personal motto.

 

It certainly makes sense that as Christians we would trust in God.  We should believe in Him, rely on Him, and trust in Him.  The wisest thing that we can do is make trust in God a habit and not something we only do when we have problems.  Trusting in God should be a way of life.

 

In the Book of Psalms, the word trust appears 50 times.  This morning we want to encourage you to trust God and His Son, as we look at some of the aspects of trust as found in the book of Psalms.

 

“IN GOD WE TRUST”:

 

REDEMPTIVE TRUST

Psalm 34:22 - The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

 

In order to truly trust God we must begin with an issue that is of utmost importance to God. That issue is eternal life.

 

You might be tired of hearing me tell you in as many words that you are no-good, rotten sinner and that you don’t deserve to go to Heaven!

 

But I’m just telling you what God says!

 

Romans 3:10-18 - As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: [11] There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. [12] They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. [13] Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: [14] Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: [15] Their feet are swift to shed blood: [16] Destruction and misery are in their ways: [17] And the way of peace have they not known: [18] There is no fear of God before their eyes.

 

Well, “So what if I am a no-good rotten sinner?

Ezekiel 18:4 - Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

 

We need help. God demands punishment for our sin. God demands eternal death for our sin. But now the good news:   

 

The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants:

 

The price was paid for our sins by the Lord Himself when He died for us on the cross at Calvary.

 

Isaiah 53:5-6 - But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. [6] All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

 

So, the Lord redeems the souls of His servants.

How do we know if we are His servants or not?

I mean, I’d hate to die thinking I was God’s servant and then finding out that I wasn’t!

 

The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

   

According to this verse, the ones that are God’s servants are the ones who trust or take refuge in Him.   

 

That’s exactly what we do when we place our faith in God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ!

 

When I trust Jesus as my Savior I admit that I am not good enough to save myself or earn my own way to Heaven. I take refuge in the shed blood of Christ for my sins!

 

Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.

 

Notice that Psalm 34:22 concludes … and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.     

 

The Word desolate means “condemned”.  When our faith is in Christ our sins have been paid for, that’s what redemption is! When we are redeemed, we are not condemned.

 

John 3:18 - He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

 

“IN GOD WE TRUST”:

 

REDEMPTIVE TRUST

RESOURCEFUL TRUST

Psalm 56:3 - What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

 

When I was a kid and I was afraid my Mommy was my resource.  I went to her because I trusted her.

 

Now that I am a Christian, when I am afraid, I have a better resource.  I can come to God

 

Notice that trust is always a decision on my part.

I can choose to be uptight or I can choose to trust.

I can choose to worry or I can choose to trust.

I can choose to panic or I can choose to trust.

 

God is there as my resource. I must choose to trust or pay the price of anxiety, fear, worry, high blood pressure, etc. etc.

 

Psalm 28:7 - The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

 

When my trust is in God I am trusting in His strength.

I’m not relying on my own ability, but His.

Let me tell you a secret. I know very little about website design. I don’t know how to set one up.  And yet, I have two websites. I have these two websites because of two people, Rick Klueg, who first helped me get started with the first website, and Jeff Pimentel, who designed the second website and has helped me numerous times to maintain the first one.

 

I trusted these men with my websites. I did not rely on my own ability. I trusted these men. They were my strength. I was helped.

 

When it comes to our anxieties, our worries, our cares, our need for strength, we have a God who will be our strength if we let Him.  We need to trust Him! He will be our help!

 

Is there a heart o'er-bound by sorrow?

Is there a life weighed down by care?

Come to the cross--each burden bearing,

All your anxiety--leave it there.

 

All your anxiety, all your care,

Bring to the mercy seat--leave it there;

Never a burden He cannot bear,

Never a friend like Jesus.  (old hymn)

 

 “IN GOD WE TRUST”

RESOURCEFUL TRUST

RELIANT TRUST

Psalm 112:7 - He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.

 

A fixed heart is a reliant heart.

A fixed heart is a heart that is already focused on God.

When there is a possibility of bad news I need to be already focused on God.

When there is bad or even tragic news, I need to be focused on God.

 

If I am already living a life of trust in the good times, I will not go into a panic during the bad times.

 

Isaiah 41:10 - Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

 

We trust the Lord when we continually come to Him in prayer by faith.   

Psalm 55:22 - Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

 

We trust the Lord when we read His Word, study His Word, have it preached to us, and believe it and obey it.  

 

Psalm 119:10-11 - With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. [11] Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

 

 “IN GOD WE TRUST”

RELIANT TRUST

RELIABLE TRUST

Psalm 18:2 - The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

 

We should trust God because He is trustworthy!

He is my “rock”. 

A rock speaks of strength.

A rock speaks of protection.

A rock speaks of permanence.

God is all these things for those who trust Him!

 

A fortress is a stronghold. It is a place of protection. It is a position from which to fight. There is no stronger fortress than God!

 

Think of God as your deliverer. Ultimately, He is the only true hope that we have!  If I am to be rescued, He is the one who will rescue!

 

God is my God! He is deity! He is the ruler of the universe.

 

God is my strength. When you have a problem, who do you rely on? Do you rely on yourself, your spouse, your friends, the government, or do you rely on God for strength?

 

A buckler is a shield.

A horn speaks of strength.

Of course, a high tower is a place to hide.

 

This verse is telling us that God is reliable!

 

Psalm 125:1 - They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.

 

Mount Zion is the hill on which Jerusalem is built.

It is a solid mountain, rock, not going anywhere anytime soon!

It was the home of the temple, the house of God, and the throne of David the king.

There will always be a Mount Zion, because there will always be a Jerusalem.

 

We are told that we will be like Mount Zion if we rely on the Lord.

 

Like Mt. Zion, we have a firm foundation, the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:11 - For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

 

Like Mt. Zion we have the Spirit of God dwelling in us.

1 Corinthians 3:16 - Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

 

Like Mt. Zion, we have a king, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1:19-22 - And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, [20] Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, [21] Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: [22] And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

 

RELIABLE TRUST   

REFLECTIVE TRUST

Psalm 20:7 - Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.

 

Trust involves having a good memory.

Trust involves reflecting on the God whom we serve and relying on Him.

There are those who trust man-made and natural things like chariots and horses.

But the person who trusts God puts no confidence in man as his ultimate deliverer.

HE TRUSTS HIS GOD!

WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE TOUGH TRUST JESUS!

 

REFLECTIVE TRUST

RESTING TRUST

Psalm 36:7 - How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.

 

God loves you! His steadfast love is towards you!

Therefore we are to come to Him to Him for help and protection, and we are to rest!

 

Jesus, I am resting, resting,
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.
Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee,
And Thy beauty fills my soul,
For by Thy transforming power,
Thou hast made me whole.

 

O, how great Thy loving kindness,
Vaster, broader than the sea!
O, how marvelous Thy goodness,
Lavished all on me!
Yes, I rest in Thee, Belovèd,
Know what wealth of grace is Thine,
Know Thy certainty of promise,
And have made it mine.

 

Jesus, I am resting, resting,
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart. Jean S. Pigott

 

RESTING TRUST

REJOICING TRUST

Psalm 5:11 - But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.

 

When I am trusting God, I can rejoice because:

·       The God who runs the universe is helping me.

·       The God who has made me His child is helping me.

·       The God who defends me is helping me.

·       The God who, I should love with all my heart, all my soul and all my mind, wants me to be joyful in Him!

 

REWARDED TRUST

Psalm 84:12 - O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.

 

I am rewarded with the blessings of God who blesses the one who trusts in Him!

 

Psalm 34:8 - O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

 

Psalm 31:19 - Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!

 

Summing this verse up quickly, God pours out His goodness to those who fear Him and for those who publicly trust Him!

 

ON THE MONEY!

IN GOD WE TRUST:

 

REDEMPTIVE TRUST

RESOURCEFUL TRUST

RELIANT TRUST

RELIABLE TRUST

REFLECTIVE TRUST

RESTING TRUST

REJOICING TRUST

REWARDED TRUST