You Can Trust Your Brothers - LOVE HELPS US TO BUILD TRUST

 Love is the basis for trust. 1 Corinthians 13:4 chapter 13 describes  many aspects of love that can help us to build or rebuild our trust  in others. (Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.)  For example, verse 4 says that "love is patient and kind."  Jehovah is patient with us even when we sinagainst him. Certainly, then, we can  be patient with our brothers if they say or do things that irritate or hurt us. Verse 5 adds: "[love] does not become provoked. It does not keep account of the injury."   Making a mental record of our brothers  offenses for future reference. Ecclesiastes 7:9 notes that we should "not be quick to take offense." How much better it is to apply the words found at Ephesians 4:26:Do not let the sun set while you are still angry"!

Another aid in building trust is to see our brothers and sisters as Jehovah sees them. God loves them and does not keep track of their sins. Neither should we. (Psalms 130:3) Instead of focusing on their faults, we should strive to look for  their fine qualities and consider their potential to do goood. (Matthew 71-5)  We give them the benefit of doubt because love "believes all thingss." (1 Corinthians 13:7)  That statement does not mean that Jehovah expects us to trust others blindly, rather, he expects us to trust them because they have shown themselves to be trustworthy." 

Trust like rspect, needs to be earned, and that takes time. How can you develop trust in your brothers? get to know them well. Speak with them at congregation meetings. Arrange to work with them in thwe ministry.  Be patient with them, giving thm the opportunity  to demonstrate that they are trustworthy. At first, you may want to be selective  in what personal matters you reveal to someone you are just getting to know. As your relationship strengthens, you may feel more comfortable opening up about your feelings. (Luke 16:10) But what can you do if a brother betrays your trust? Do not be quick to give up on hm. Instead, give the matter time. And do not allow the actions of a few discourage you from trusting your brothers. In this regard, we will consider  the example set gy a numvber of faithful servants of Jehovah who despite feeling disappointed by some maintained trustin others.

Next time: You Can Trust Your Brothers - LEARN FROM THOSE WHO MAINAINTED THEIR TRUST IN OTHERS

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