Thursday, April 20, 2023

[New post] Extreme Trust

Extreme Trust

wrestlingwordblog

Apr 20

This year God has been speaking to me about trust. So, when I saw a blog about a new book called Extreme Trust by Don Peppers and Martha Rogers, it caught my eye. My first thought was that it is about radical trust in God. However, the book explores the difference in business between being trustworthy and trustable. Even so, the definition given of extreme trust spoke to me.

"Being "trustworthy" is certainly better than being untrustworthy, but soon even "trustworthiness" won't be sufficient. Instead companies will have to be trustable.

..trustability is a higher standard still. Rather than working to maintain honest prices and reasonable service, in the near future companies will have to go out of their way to protect each customer's interest proactively, taking extra steps when necessary to ensure that a customer doesn't make a mistake, or overlook some benefit or service, or fail to do or not do something that would have been better for the customer." -- Don Peppers and Martha Rogers, quoted by Maz Iqbal https://thecustomerblog.co.uk/2012/05/18/extreme-trust-can-honesty-be-a-means-of-competitive-advantage-part-1/

After I read this, I thought, wow, isn't that a perfect description of our Father God? One who goes out of [his] way to protect each [one's] interest proactively. Trustable.

In Psalm 21:3, David praises God, For you meet him [David] with rich blessings; you set a crown of fine gold upon his head. The word translated "meet" means "Precede; hence, to anticipate, hasten, meet (usually for help)."¹ David Wilkerson had this to say about God anticipating David's need, preceding him, hastening to help:

"This verse provides us with an incredible picture of our Lord's love for us. Evidently, he is so anxious to bless us, so ready to fulfill his lovingkindness in our lives, that he can't even wait for us to tell him our needs. He jumps in and performs acts of mercy, grace and love toward us; and that is a supreme pleasure to him. That is just what David was saying in Psalm 21. 'Lord, you pour out blessings and lovingkindness on me before I can even ask. You offer more than I could even conceive of asking.'" -- David Wilkerson, Victory Before the Battlefield

It shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear. Isaiah 65:24, NKJV

All through the Bible story there are examples of God's trustability – God going ahead, preceding us, anticipating our need. His proactive interest in our welfare.

Before he [Abraham's servant] had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. Genesis 24:15

And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. Exodus 13:21

You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can't even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me! Psalm 139:16-18 (NLT)

"Do not let your heart be troubled (afraid, cowardly). Believe [confidently] in God and trust in Him, [have faith, hold on to it, rely on it, keep going and] believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you." John 14:1-4 (Amplified)

Yes, God precedes us, goes before us, is proactive on our behalf. Yet, there was one part of the Peppers and Rogers definition of trustability that gave me pause: taking extra steps when necessary to ensure that a customer doesn't make a mistake.

My first reaction to that was, well that's not going to happen. We all make mistakes. I make mistakes all the time. For a long time, I felt all I ever did was a mistake. That my whole life was a big mistake. But then God reminded me. He has already proactively gone out of his way and preceded us there too, for what is his promise?

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:28-31

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

Actually, the only real mistake I can make is NOT trusting him completely. For he is completely trustable.

Trust (noun)

as in assured

: reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something

: one in which confidence is placed

: dependence on something future or contingent : hope

Trust (verb)

: to rely on the truthfulness or accuracy of : believe

: to place confidence in : rely on

: to hope or expect confidently

: to commit or place in one's care or keeping : entrust