Constantly bombarded with shocking revelations and accusations, misinformation and half-truths, targeted by scammers and schemers, it is hard to know who we can trust. When even the people considered to be paragons of virtue can be revealed to have committed misdeeds, how do we know who we can rely on?

As always, the Scriptures provide guidance in such a time as this.

When it comes to those we should follow in positions of leadership, we find these words:

But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.

Exodus 18:21 (NIV)

In our day-to-day lives, we can judge the character of those in our lives by looking at the the results of their choices, as we are told in Matthew 7:20:  “You can tell who the false prophets are by their deeds.” In this instance we can read “false prophets” to be anyone who would choose to advise us, whether friends or leaders. By their fruits shall we know them. A person whose own life is in a shambles would be the last one we should trust to tell us how to live.

The best advice in today’s confusing times is still these words:

Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.

Psalm 40:4 (NIV)