The more you trust someone, the more you are willing to tear down the facades that shelter you from the peering eyes and piercing attacks of those intent on hurting you. Trust breeds openness and honesty that in turn breeds greater trust. Next to unconditional love, perhaps one of the greatest things we are allowed to enjoy in this life is the pure joy that comes from absolute trust in God and each other.

The more you trust someone, the more devastating the effects are when that trust is broken or betrayed. Within a marriage there is trust that the partner will remain true to his/her vows. In most marriage ceremonies there is a statement made by the one officiating saying “and forsaking all others”. Wrapped up within this statement is the vow of fidelity. When this vow is broken, there remains no longer the trust necessary to make a marriage work.

When a person sits down with a lawyer, pastor or doctor, there is a feeling of security which breeds trust due to laws which protect the confidentiality of what is discussed. Best friendshave a trust built into the relationship based on mutual belief nothing said would ever be repeated or used against the other.

In the Bible, there are warnings against whisperers, gossipers, talebearers and the such. All of these people are guilty of betraying trust in one form or another. Those who are intent on digging up dirt and coercing people into tattling on their friends are indeed nothing but worms as far as God is concerned.

It is so very important to guard the things told to us in confidence. It is essential that we hide such things in the lockbox of our hearts and throw away the key. Do you want to be trusted? Then learn how to SHUT UP and not repeat what is spoken to you in private. The old saying “loose lips sink ships” is appropriate and absolutely accurate.

Through the years I have seen people, myself included, share things spoken to them by God in strict confidence. The phrase “God told me” is overused and in most cases dead wrong to use. If indeed God did tell you something, odds are that He never intended it to be broadcast to everyone on earth. Logic would dictate that if that were His will, He would have told the earth Himself!

It is far more difficult to keep a secret than to tell it. If is far more important to guard a secret than to be the special self appointed messenger who announces it. No one likes a tattle tale who gets everyone in trouble. Once a person is found guilty of betrayal of confidence, they are also found untrustworthy. If indeed the desire of our heart is to be trusted, then we must be found trustworthy in our willingness to guard that which is told us in confidence.

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