Trusting Pains
Gains or pains? Why?
Is trust a zero sum game?
Short answer, No.
Actually, the premise is wrong.
Mostly because what was in mind while trying to get to the question was another thing.
Aim: Looking for a word that explains that trust is not just a simple yes no, 0 1 binary life choice.
It sure as hell sounds like a more gradient level thing. Something that exists in a continuous manner rather than discrete in nature.
What is a zero sum game?
It is one of the things that can be explained in game theory as; one man’s gain results in another’s loss.
It’s a game of winners and losers. And each man seeks to maximize their gains.
A zero-sum game is a mathematical and economic concept where one person’s gain is exactly offset by another’s loss. In these scenarios, wealth or resources are finite, no new value is created. If you total the winnings and subtract the losses, the net result is always zero
What is a better name?
Honestly, idk.
The closest item I can refer you to is this: the color gradient. It abandons the black and white system and introduces a sort of life. Across a wide range of items, one can find and select the color they want.
And this: The Positive-Sum Scenario (Win-Win).
When two people or groups trust each other, the total value of their relationship increases.
The Trust Gradient:
In physics, a “gradient” represents a smooth, continuous change in value from one point to another (like temperature changing across a room).
A trust gradient perfectly describes a relationship where trust is constantly shifting, rising, or falling based on proximity and actions.
The Credence Continuum
In philosophy and formal epistemology, “Credence” is the technical term for a person’s degree of belief in something.
Unlike standard belief (which is binary: you either believe it or you don’t), credence is measured on a strict continuous scale from 0 (absolute certainty that something is false) to 1 (absolute certainty that it is true).
What I’m not saying
- Trust is not valuable
- Trust cannot exist in a yes/no state. (We all have scenarios where we don’t fully trust someone or something and we know of people who fully trust in an entity. Classic example; Abraham)
- We shouldn’t trust fully in either yes or no direction.
Is it pains or Gains
Depends.
On what?
The nature of trust, person, stakes involved, effects etc.
How is trust defined here?
Strong belief in a X and what they are about. That is in terms of their beliefs, behavior & actions and consistency in the three.
Example: Trusting person A means that you believe in A and what they stand for in given case.
Now What?
Something I wrote a while back to some people.
It mostly highlights the nature of trust even in a sovereign being.
This is something I strongly believed then.
Now, I stand amazed. What have I forgotten about the one I trust in?
I have left it mostly unedited. The rest of the case studies needs to be explored.
We do not live under perfect conditions. We all trust in something to a certain extent.
We are left to choose for ourselves daily where it lies.
Just do it: Obeying God even when it doesn’t make sense.
Some religious people make it sound easy and may make others feel terrible about themselves when they have trouble obeying and trusting in God.
You should realize that there is nothing wrong with that. People are different and it’s totally fine. It’s important that we do not put all the focus on us,but on Him.
He is able to help us obey His word and trust Him. Well… it’s true indeed. It theoretically sounds simple and maybe just easy. It is a little bit more different practically.
You might be tempted to say that if God says then I’ll do it. It is true but you need to trust Him. And to trust God,you must know something about Him that enables you to obey Him even though you might have wanted to do it differently or it just doesn’t add up.
He says this,then let’s do it. But there are times when obeying God doesn’t make sense. This is seen in both the old and new testament. When God,as a Mighty God of Israel, would give instructions to His chosen leaders and when God,as Jesus here on earth, would instruct different people.
Let’s do some case studies:
- To Joshua
God had told the children of Israel that they would possess lands. Jericho was a strong city. Its walls were so thick that chariots of horses would in fact run on top of.
They were also very tall which made it very secure for the citizens of Jericho. God instructed Joshua to go round the city for 7 days and on the seventh day go round 7 times.
This didn’t make sense to Joshua and if we had live broadcasts on that day,the Israelites would tell them how hilarious Joshua was by making them go round a city. It didn’t make sense. Maybe some of them were angry at Joshua and maybe others may have wanted to protest. Anyway they just did it.
Then the best part,the shouting. On the seventh day,after going round the city for 7 days,man they were tired😂😂,then there came Joshua who told them to shout for God had given them victory.
Hold on Joshua,what victory. Maybe they wondered in their heads. “Well… let’s just do,“they said within themselves.
They did shout and man,the strong walls came down. Hell yeah 😂😂. It was also profound that it is said that the walls came down and formed a ramp into the city.
The thing that kept them out of the city became a highway into God’s promise. All this because of obedience to a command that didn’t make sense. Maybe the strong Israelites would have wanted to plan an attack,but no. They obeyed. Ain’t this great. They sure did feel great and confused. They were shouting one minute,and walls were down the other😂😂.
[2] Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. [3] March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. [4] Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. [5] When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.”
Joshua 6:2-5 NIV
[20] When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city. [21] They devoted the city to the Lord and destroyed with the sword every living thing in it—men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep and donkeys.
Joshua 6:20-21 NIV
- Peter and his friends.
He worked all night fishing. He caught nothing. He gave up,washed the nets in the morning. And early on came Jesus who asked for his boat.
Jesus taught the crowd from it. He afterwards told Peter to throw the net into the deep.This maybe what was going on in Peter’s head:Hold on Jesus,fish are caught at night.
And… I’m a great fisherman,I know my jam. Have you ever fished before. Ain’t you a carpenter’s son,you don’t know nothing.
Well…he just obeyed even though it didn’t make sense. What would he have lost if Jesus was wrong? Maybe he could catch some fish and call it a day,eat,sell some and go home to his family with something.
But no. They caught so much fish,they called for backup. Their nets almost tore. If there were Guinness world records back then, we’d have Peter with one😂😂.
It would read: The most fish caught during the day by boat by small scale fishermen. Peter could not believe his eyes. He just told Jesus to get the hell away from him for he was a sinful man.
Jesus had a better plan. He transformed the great fisherman to actually be a fisher of men😂😂. That’s obedience again when it didn’t make sense.
Just few examples from the obedience list. Others include: Abraham (followed an unknown God to an unknown land. He saw great stuff,you know it already), Moses (fearful guy who obeyed God and became a great man who saved God’s people,and scared all Egypt), Jeremiah, Paul, Isaiah, Ezekiel (dead bones came alive 💀😂😂, pretty sick)etc.
[2] He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. [3] He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. [4] When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” [5] Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” [6] When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. [7] So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. [8] When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” [9] For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, [10] and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” [11] So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
Luke 5:2-11 NIV
Final words: You have a great purpose and it won’t always make sense what God tell you. Just obey. I know it’s hard. But try to learn from the great guys in the hall of Fame(Hebrews 11). Just do it 👍. He’ll do great things that eyes have not seen and ears have not heard💯💯👌. Safe travels and God bless you👻. Shalom.
By Herceg.
Takeaways
- This is a complex system.
- It can be defined in simple terms.
- It should not be enforced on people.
- Accountability and knowing what is at stake is key.
- There is no perfect information or conditions.
- We can reduce/increase trust with more information.
- We just need to live with our choices.
- The tides can change.
- Actions > Beliefs. Behavior is the receipt.
- Life is short to trust in the wrong things.
Final thoughts
We should not slide our way into trust. I believe it is a decision. It ought to be a deliberate decision made with knowledge of risks, uncertainties and consequences.
Even under the worst of conditions, or the best for that matter!
Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore.
Psalms 125:1-2 NIV