DAILY DOSE OF HOPE – BLOG – NAIMA LETT
TRUSTED?

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Are we trusted?
On a scale of 1 – 10, how much can others trust us?

Trust is earned, usually over time… after being consistent and dependable.

For example, in television, an actor is awarded roles directly proportionate to how much he/she is trusted and known by the powers that be (producers, directors, casting directors).

TV LAND

“Usually”, an actor has to prove himself and build a solid resume through independent, smaller roles, which lead to solidifying representation that can open doors to audition for co-star roles i.e. the one-liners. After landing several co-star roles and proving that he can handle himself on the set, an actor is bumped up to auditioning for guest star roles, i.e. a couple of pages of dialogue. If he lands several guest star roles, then it’s on to being submitted for recurring and series regular roles. To garner the series star/lead role, where showrunners are willing to write a series for you to carry, it takes many, many years of building trust.

Why? Because people’s livelihoods – their house notes, car payments, health insurance, child’s tuition – are all dependent on whether or not you succeed or fail. They’ve got to trust that you, the actor, have what it takes to keep people watching and keep advertisers paying week after week, which in turn, keeps them employed and their paychecks coming. Make sense?

I talk to artists all the time who think they are not booking because they don’t have the right opportunities. While that may be partially true, (I believe artists can MAKE their own opportunities), it’s not the whole truth. Many actors, dancers, singers, etc. are not booking because they have not earned the trust of those who can hire them. Many of them have not even begun to build the relationships, much less build trust.

FROM TV TO GOD

Many of us approach God with the same air of entitlement that my artists friends approach the industry. We expect the series star/lead role, but we haven’t yet proven ourselves as co-stars or guest stars. We expect God to give us the sun, moon and stars, and we haven’t learned how to take care of His earth.

We ask God for a husband or wife, yet all our other relationships are broken.
We ask God for a promotion, yet we neglect our current position.
We ask God for an Academy Award, yet we refuse to take an on-camera acting class.

If one more person tells me that God is supposed to make them a millionaire! My question usually is “What have we done with what He has already blessed us with?” Why would anybody, especially an all-knowing, all-wise God, give us millions, if we have not effectively managed thousands, hundreds, tens, fives, ones?

Would we trust someone to manage our income who had not proven themselves as a good steward of their own? Would we turn over our entire bank account to someone who had not proven they wouldn’t gamble it away? Could someone turn over their entire account to us and trust that we would honor their wishes, not our own?

Are we trusted?
Are we trustworthy?
Prove it. Let’s show our prior record.

TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN

The quote, “To whom much is given, much is required” is thrown around a lot.
Some attribute it to Oprah.
Some quote Stan Lee’s Spiderman i.e. “With great power comes great responsibility”.
Others quote Socrates, “Rule worthy of might.”

Many are trying to quote Jesus:

Luke 12:48
Passage: Luke 12:35-48

… From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.

Matthew 25:23,29
Passage: Matthew 25:14-30

‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master’…“ For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.”

IN CONTEXT

If we read both full passages in context, we find that Jesus’ quote (about entrusting more to those who are trustworthy) follows His teachings and parables about being ready for His second coming. In both Matthew 25 and Luke 12, the point Jesus makes is for His disciples to be ready, be alert, because we don’t know the day or hour He’s coming back for us. The point of the parables is that when Christ returns, He will reward those who have been great stewards over what has been entrusted to them and punish those who have not.

This isn’t about Spiderman saving the day, though I’m always excited to see biblical truths woven into our modern-day stories. This is an ultimate question of what we’ve done with the truth God has given us? Are we being good stewards over His affairs? Or are we the servants who know the master’s will and do not get ready or act in accord with His will?

TRUSTED?

It’s Monday.
It’s a new week.
And the question is, are we trusted?

Can God trust us with His ten talents, five talents, one talent?

Do we even acknowledge that our lives are not our own and that we’re here to accomplish His greater purpose?

Scripture says God gives “each according to his own ability”. What has He already given us that’s according to what we can handle? Have we been excellent stewards over what He’s already blessed us with? Have we managed our resources well?

Are we trusted?
Are we trustworthy?
Let’s prove it!

Wondering if the new The Amazing Spiderman in 3D dropping July 3rd will be as amazing as the three films that preceded it…???
Naima

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