Being eternally secure regarding our eternal destiny, believers can experience joyful living despite their various trials and hardships. When life hurts, we know it’s only for a short time. An eternity of joy awaits us at the end of life’s race. So, as the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews tells us, “We are to run with endurance the race that is set before us.” Peter also wants us to know that there are some positive results of persevering through trials. 1 Peter 1:7 tells us, “So that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Wright puts it this way, “Quite a bit of this letter is concerned with the suffering of the early Christians. Here, Peter states the theme that he will develop: that this suffering is the means by which the quality of the Christians’ faith can shine out all the more, and when Jesus is finally revealed this will result in an explosion of praise.”[1]
Suffering is part of life. Everyone suffers at times. Everyone undergoes trials and hardships. Some live “under” their circumstances. Some Christians have every reason to live “above” their circumstances because they know that God works out all the circumstances of our lives for good in the end. The circumstances, both good and bad, seem to be tests of our faith. Peter speaks specifically of “bad” circumstances. Commenting on this letter, Karen Jobes writes, “Suffering is a test of the genuineness of their faith in Christ, especially because they have neither seen nor presently see him. Therefore, even their suffering is an opportunity for joy because it confirms their faith and the salvation that will certainly be theirs in the end.”[2]
Karen is absolutely right here, but it seems that sometimes the greatest tests of our faith come with prosperity. Adrian Rogers closed one of his sermons, saying, “God is going to bring many of you to the tests—I mean, you’re going to be tested. Some of you are going to receive the test of poverty. I hope you’ll pass it. Some of you are going to receive the test of prosperity, and that will be even harder to pass.”[3] He prays that his congregation will pass that test, also. I like Solomon’s prayer concerning this issue. In Proverbs 30:8- 9, he prays, “Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal and so dishonor the name of my God.”
[1] Wright, Tom. 2011. Early Christian Letters for Everyone: James, Peter, John and Judah. For Everyone Bible Study Guides. London; Louisville, KY: SPCK; Westminster John Knox Press.
[2] Jobes, Karen H. 2005. 1 Peter. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.
[3] Rogers, Adrian. 2017. “A Man and His Money.” In Adrian Rogers Sermon Archive, Jas 1:9–12. Signal Hill, CA: Rogers Family Trust.