Do not trust a neighbor; put no confidence in a friend. Even with the woman who lies in your embrace guard the words of your lips. – Micah 7:5

Today's Scripture Reading (May 4, 2026): Micah 7

In her novel, "Haven," Hope Collier writes, "That's the thing about trust. It's like broken glass. You can put it back together, but the cracks are always visible--like scars that never fully heal" (Hope Collier). It is an unfortunate truth. We can forgive someone for broken trust, but it will never be the same. It is true in our interpersonal relationships and in our relations between nations. Trust is hard to rebuild, even when the parties want to rebuild the relationship.

Micah makes a further comment: broken trust is a result of sin. When we refuse to place our trust, or Micah says our hope, in God, then trust is easily eroded. Unfortunately, we live in a world that is filled with sin and, therefore, with broken trust.

Most of us have stories of trust broken, sometimes by us and sometimes by a neighbor, friend, or even a spouse. The protection against broken trust is always humility; it is wanting the best for those around us, those who share this life journey with us. As long as we do that, trust can be maintained and, to a certain extent, even rebuilt.

It was a principle Jesus taught: when you present yourselves, do so with great humility. If you want to maintain trust, humility is often a key ingredient. And it is often missing in our contemporary relationships. Jesus told this parable.

When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 'Give this person your seat.' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted (Luke 14:8-11).

When we react with humility, trust can be protected. When we put others first, even if we are greater, we won't be tempted to break trust, and therefore, nothing needs to be repaired. However, when we think we are the best, trust is easily broken, and it can never be repaired. It is a message we all need to heed in every relationship we maintain on this journey, and humility protects us from the cracks that result from broken trust.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Isaiah 8