If you have been following this article you know that I have been suggesting that the call to holiness is a call to a true and genuine relationship with God. I have also suggested that this requires for us to first have true and genuine relationships with our fellowmen. Therefore, I have been sharing some of the skills that are necessary to have such relationships. I have already touched on several.

One very important skill to develop is the ABILITY TO TRUST OTHERS. Some time ago I had a philosophical debate with one of my friends about what was more important in a relationship – love, trust, or passion. I was a lot younger and more naive then. I have grown to understand, however, that trust is hugely important in any relationship. I have come to understand that “Trust is more important than love.” I believe this sentiment is true because no love will last without equal amounts of respect and trust.

Here is a good definition of trust: a reliance or resting of the mind on the integrity, veracity, justice, friendship or other sound principle of another person. Now this is a disposition of a person which does not rely on how the other person acts or behaves.

This is difficult for most people to comprehend. As a person I must have trust regardless of how other persons respond. If others are untrustworthy, then I may modify my interactions with them but I don’t modify my ability to trust. Anytime I allow the responses of others to change me in the slightest way, I lessen my own abilities. And, if I allow myself to not trust even one person, I lessen my ability to trust.

So the learning I am called to is to trust others even if they are untrustworthy. Jesus demonstrated this with regard to Peter and Judas. He did not change His attitude toward them even though they proved to be untrustworthy. It is critical that we do everything we can to maintain our own ability to trust. Lack of trust leads to untrustworthiness.