Learning How to Trust - Step 5 of the 12 Spiritual Principles

The 5^th Step of AA in our Series 12 Spiritual Principles to Recovery call on persons committed to the process of recovery to venture into the behavior of trust.

According to Reece and Brandt’ Work, Effective Human Relations in Organizations, ‘To trust another is to know the two of you share basic goals in the long run, so that left to do things your own way, you will manage in ways that are not harmful to the other.’

Step 5

Step Five says, “We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to one other human being the exact nature of our wrongs.”

Biblical texts that speak to Step 5 include 1st John 1 vss 8 - 10, especially vs 9 and James 5 vas 13 - 16," especially vs 16.

1st John 1 vss 8 - 10, especially vs 9

8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all righteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

James 5 vas 13 - 16," especially vs 16

13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.
14 Is anyone aiming you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may healed. The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man available much.

Men and women who have not been trustworthy find it difficult to trust others.  The inability to trust self makes it difficult to trust others.  Self – destructive behavior’s effect on the emotional self alienates people from all their primary relationships. 

Intimate, parental and professional relationships suffer when users find it more important and responsible to be involved with their secret behavior.

AA believes that after men and women in recovery have worked the first four steps, they are ready for Step 5.  Join me Sunday for the Teaching Ministry of New Eden as we Learn How to Trust and work Step 5.