NEVER trust people...Trust the GOD in people.
Once you spend enough time with people and watch their traits, you will begin to see their fruit. Words say a lot of things, Actions say many things but fruit? Fruit says it all! Let's identify some bad fruit that should cause you to re-think the "trust" factor:
1. DO THEY GOSSIP OFTEN ABOUT OTHERS TO YOU?
If they will do it with you, then they will do it to you. Period. Also, if they can say it to you, but not in the face of the person that they speak of, it then makes them a coward. Everything that I say about you I should be able to say it to you. If you are surrounded by someone who tells every one's business, secrets, rights /wrongs and ALLLWWAYYYSSS has something negative to say about someone or something...FLEE
2. DO THEY KEEP THEIR WORD?
If there is ever a time that you have no money and/or items of materialistic value, the ONLY thing that you will have is your word. Your word is your bond and it is ohhh so valuable. Keeping your word speaks volumes. If it is said, then it should be done. There are those circumstances where life happens and where things come up, that's where communication comes in. Ultimately, if you are surrounded by someone who consistently makes broken promises and say things with little to no action to back them..FLEE.
3. HOW DO THEY ACT/RESPOND WHEN THEY ARE HURT AND ANGRY?
We are all guilty of saying and/or doing some things that we later regret out of anger. Such is life, and such is being human which is why we constantly seek ways to better ourselves and our hearts right? Anyway, these responses and actions are not the ones I am speaking of. I am speaking of those actions that are full of SPITE that leave physical and /or emotional DAMAGE. Those actions that are repetitive. Those words that are meant to cut to the depths of the heart. Those actions that have no remorse. Whether these people do it to you or someone else, be mindful of how they act when they are angry. If they suddenly turn into this cold hearted, spiteful, vengeful person with no second thought or remorse....FLEE
4. ARE THEY RESPECTFUL OF OTHER'S THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS EVEN WHEN THEY DIFFER?
Everyone has an opinion. As we should. And the reality of it is that they all differ. My motto is that you don't have to feel and think the way that I feel and think, but you should respect my opinion as I should respect yours. Granted, there are some opinions that come from a totally ignorant and/or shallow place at times, and it makes it very complex to "respect" these opinions, however, under no circumstances should the person be disrespected. I know I am opinionated about everything. And I also know that there are some opinions that I think "that is the dumbest thing that I have ever heard in my life"...but I fervently try not to disrespect a person and their opinion regardless of what my thoughts are about it. To each his own. At the end of the day I don't have a heaven or hell to put anyone in, and I am totally fine with agreeing to disagree. On the flip side, there are some people that we WANT to see eye to eye with due to the nature and closeness of the relationship. Reality is that we won't see eye to eye all the time, BUT we should still listen and be open to hear what and why they feel and think as such. If you are surrounded by people who disrespect others because their opinions contrast or who disregard your thoughts and feelings on things because it does not align with what they deem as correct....FLEE
5. IS IT HARD FOR THEM TO APOLOGIZE and/or ADMIT THEIR FAULTS?
No one is always right all the time. Sometimes, you are at fault. Even if you were actually right, sometimes the approach or choice of words may not be right, thus you are in the wrong. We are not perfect, and we are bound to make mistakes at some point and time. Such is life. It is not okay, however, to disregard those mistakes, especially when others feel wronged or offended. You may not always mean to step on some one's toes, but that doesn't mean that you don't do it. Surround yourself by individuals who are open to rectify their faults whether it be through words or actions. If you are surrounded by someone who never deems themselves at fault or never apologizes (in their own way) even when they KNOW that they KNOW that they freakin knoowwww that they are at fault....FLEE
6. HOW DO THEY TREAT PEOPLE?
Golden rule: do unto to others as you would want done to you. This ranges from customer service to being a customer...how you communicate with friends, family, elders and enemies. How you respond to the homeless person on the street who asks you for a hot meal or spare change.. or to that waitress who accidentally puts the wrong order in for your food. There is a right and wrong way to treat people. It all boils down to respect. If you are surrounded by someone who is very harsh towards people and heavy in attitude....FLEE
7. ARE THEY HONEST?
Honesty is not just telling the truth about certain situations per se.. It's a walk of honestly overall. It's turning in the $100 bill that the man in front of you dropped out of his wallet. It's standing up for a situation even when you know you will take the heat for it. It's telling the truth even when it's embarrassing or just not saying anything at all. Bottom line, no one likes a liar and no one should trust a liar A liar in actions or a liar in words. dangerous. If you catch the individuals surrounding you in multiple lies and/or dishonest acts....FLEE
8. ARE THEY SELFISH OR SELFLESS?
If you are surrounded by individuals who only think, do and consider themselves....FLEE
9. DO THEY HONOR GOD?
To honor God is to regard with great respect. If you don't honor God, then what's there to convict you when the opportunity presents itself for you to negate my trust? Look at it like this, if you are married, that doesn't mean that you won't be attracted to many other individuals that come your way. There may be many times that some ATTRACTIVE people may come your way and some will even attempt to try you. But what is there that keeps you from cheating even when you're attracted? even when you're horny? Even when you're tempted? Our honor for God. When you honor someone or something it does great damage to your heart to even THINK about negating their trust. Conviction is what keeps us. The Holy Spirit convicts us and gives us the strength to choose the way OUT of temptation and dishonest situations. Surround yourself by individuals who seek to love and honor God as the primary goal of their being. Surround yourselves by individuals who seek to die to their fleshy, selfish desires to have the pure, loving heart of God. Knowing God, loving God, and honoring God makes all the difference. ALL the difference. If you are surrounded by individuals who disregard God and the heart of God....FLEE
10. WHAT DO YOUR INSTINCTS SAY?
My mentor has this saying that has become one of my golden rules in life. FOLLOW YOUR INSTINCTS. Your instincts are usually that voice, that conscious, or as she says the IAMINUS (The I AM IN US) . Listen to that voice, the Holy Spirit, that is there to guide you along the way. Sometimes you may not see any bad fruit from people that you are surrounded by, but if your GUT feeling, your instincts, the I AM in you even for a moment tells you that something is not right....FLEE.
If there is one word that describes GOD, it is LOVE. We know that according to 1 Corinthians 13 that Love is patient and kind. It does not envy, boast, and it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. We also know that according to Galatians 5:22 that the fruit of His Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Identify these things in the people that you choose to trust. Most importantly, identify them in yourself. Ask yourself? Am I trust worthy? Do I bear the fruits of the spirit? The attributes of love? Am I in a position to hear and/or understand The I AM in me?
I hope that we can all find something in this blog that will either enhance us as trustworthy people, and/or increase our discernment on who we choose to trust. Thanks for listening to my heart on this matter.
~Aleshia
