Throughout nearly my entire professional career, I have heard—and been taught—that the key pillars for building trust and achieving success in the workplace are character combined with competency. This concept is powerfully reinforced by Stephen M. Covey in his best-selling book The Speed of Trust. Covey makes a compelling case as he unpacks the building blocks of trust, suggesting that trust is accelerated when both character and competency are evident. He stresses that both components must be present: character without competency will not establish trust, and competence without character will not build trust either. I have learned much from Covey’s work and have applied several of his teachings personally and professionally.

Over the years, however, I have observed many leaders and professionals focus so heavily on the competency component—developing and mastering skill sets, touting their value—that building, maintaining, and living out lives of character and integrity take a back seat.

There is a real danger in relying too much on our competencies and skills—a danger that breeds a cocky arrogance, which does not sit well with me. Don’t get me wrong: I firmly believe learning, growing, and developing strong skills and competencies should be pursued throughout our careers. When I board an airplane, I want the most competent pilot flying the aircraft. If I or a loved one faces major surgery, I want the most competent surgeon performing the procedure.

But there is a dangerous side to competency when it leads us to rely on ourselves instead of trusting and depending on God. This danger says, “Trust in me, depend on me. I’ll get you where you want to go. My skills and competence will save the day.”

As followers of Jesus, we are all familiar with Proverbs 3:5-6:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

Jeremiah 17:5 warns:
“Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord.”

Psalm 118:8 reminds us:
“It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. Do not put your trust in princes.”

Of course, we should build trust in all our relationships and strive to be trustworthy, living lives of integrity.

I believe a major area where the danger of depending on competency becomes especially evident is in ministry. For those who work in ministry organizations or serve as church leaders, we must guard against the idea that the ministry’s success depends on us. Often, when we first enter ministry, we lack skills and experience and thus pray, depend on, and trust the Lord. But if we’re not careful, as we gain experience and develop skills, we begin slipping down the slippery slope of depending on our own talents rather than on the Lord. We rely on our plans and abilities instead of trusting God to lead and guide us.

When we begin to depend on ourselves, we may find ourselves working harder without seeing the results we desire. We can become discouraged and ask, “Lord, why aren’t you blessing my ministry?” Here is the problem: it’s not your ministry.

Picture yourself standing in front of a mirror. Your right hand represents dependence and trust in the Lord; your left hand represents your competencies and skills. Now close your eyes and ask yourself—what is the position of each hand as you think about your life? Place each hand in the position that best reflects your trust in your competencies and your trust in God. Now open your eyes.

If your left hand is higher than your right, you’re in danger. If your left hand is stretched high above your head while your right hand hangs near your thigh or knee, it’s time to switch hands! Let us not put our confidence in our own abilities and competencies but instead put our full trust and dependence in the Lord. He is always, completely, and 100% trustworthy.

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