Dictionary of Bible Themes: 5973 unreliability

5973 unreliability

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes » 5000 Humanity » 5760 Human attitudes and behaviour » 5973 unreliability

The quality of a person or thing that cannot be trusted or relied upon. Scripture notes the unreliability of human nature, while stressing the total reliability of God.

Human nature is unreliable

Psalm 78:57 See also Isaiah 49:15; Hosea 6:4; 2 Corinthians 1:9

Examples of unreliable people

Genesis 40:23 the chief cupbearer; 1 Samuel 13:13-14 King Saul; Hosea 5:13 Israel

Jesus Christ's disciples:

Matthew 26:40 pp Mark 14:37 pp Luke 22:45; Matthew 26:56 pp Mark 14:50

Unreliable people are not to be trusted

Proverbs 25:19 See also Psalm 146:3-4; Isaiah 2:22

False gods are unreliable

Isaiah 45:20 See also Deuteronomy 4:28; Psalm 115:4-8; Isaiah 40:20; Jeremiah 10:5,10,14-15; Jeremiah 51:17-18; Daniel 5:23; Habakkuk 2:18; Matthew 24:5 pp Mark 13:6 pp Luke 21:8

Human wisdom is unreliable

1 Corinthians 3:19-20 See also Judges 20:36; Job 5:13; Isaiah 30:12-13; Isaiah 59:4; Ezekiel 28:6-7; Romans 1:22; 1 Corinthians 1:19-21,25; Colossians 2:23

Military strength is unreliable

Material wealth is unreliable

Proverbs 11:28 See also Psalm 62:10; Jeremiah 49:4; Haggai 1:9; Haggai 2:16-17; Zechariah 9:3-4; Matthew 6:19; Matthew 13:22 pp Mark 4:19 pp Luke 8:14; 1 Timothy 6:9-10

The consequences of unreliability

Unreliable actions let God down

Hosea 11:2-3 See also Isaiah 5:7; Jeremiah 2:21; Matthew 26:34 pp Mark 14:30 pp Luke 22:34; Luke 16:10-12

Unreliability leads to disappointment

James 1:7-8 See also Matthew 21:30,43; Luke 16:10-12; Acts 15:37-38

Trust in unreliable things

Leads to self-delusion

Isaiah 44:20 See also Isaiah 47:10; Luke 12:20; Revelation 3:17

Leads to judgment

Jeremiah 17:5 See also Psalm 49:13-14; Psalm 52:5-7; Isaiah 20:5; Jeremiah 46:25; Amos 6:1,7

Unreliable people are judged

Ezekiel 13:9 See also Isaiah 20:6; Malachi 2:7-9; Matthew 23:38; Matthew 25:26-27 pp Luke 19:22-23

God is never unreliable

Numbers 23:19 See also 1 Kings 8:56; Psalm 71:6; John 8:26; 2 Corinthians 1:20; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18; 1 John 4:13-16