"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT GOING THROUGH TRIALS"
Proverbs 17:3 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests the hearts.
Some explanatory thoughts/application/questions and a prayer:
The Book of Proverbs has been given to us by God to show us how to walk in wisdom day by day.
As you read through the 31 chapters, you run into just about every situation that you actually experience in life. Proverbs gives us both insight from God, encouragement from God, warnings from God, and explanations from God. This verse is one of explanation. God is explaining a little bit to us about "Trials"
1. Man uses methods to refine silver and gold.
Proverbs 17:3 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
In days of old, and even today, the method to purify is heat. Silver and gold, which are precious metals, need to be heated, over and over again, in order to separate the dross from the actual silver and gold. The heat is what separates the two.
In fact, God uses this concept to explain to us how His word is pure.
Psalms 12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words, Like silver tried in a furnace of earth, Purified seven times.
So, right there in Ps 12:6, you have even some more detail as to the number of times heat is applied to purify. God's Word of course did not need to be purified, but God was simply using a real life illustration to show the purity of His Word. And, in doing so, we see that men actually would use furnaces to purify precious metals, and apparently 7 times was the needed amount of time to make the metal pure.
2. But LORD tests the hearts.
Proverbs 17:3 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests the hearts.
Now we see by contrast what God does in the heart of man to purify him. Man may use fire to purify precious metals, but the LORD tests the hearts of men. Or He seeks to purify the heart of man.
3. Here are four direct references to this process of testing our hearts, or the LORD putting us through trials. Please keep in mind, that God's goal is to purify our lives. What a blessing that He would have such an interest in us, as to bring that purification into our lives. These verses help us understand God's ways of using trials to purify our lives. And, to bless our lives.
(1) The first one is found in James chapter 1.
James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
James 1:3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
James 1:4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
These verses encourage us to look at the big picture when we are being tested. The test is designed to produce in us patience. And, it's needful that we allow the Lord to do His work, by trusting Him, and as we do, we will become more well rounded believers, we will grow into maturity.
(2) The second is found in Heb 12:11
Hebrews 12:11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
This verse does not sugar coat the difficulties of trials. They are not joyful to go through, but they are painful. But, if we go through them, we will come out the other side different people. We will experience the peaceable fruit of righteousness in our lives. God uses trials to purify us.
(3) The third one is found in 1st Peter
1st Peter 4:12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;
Here we are told not to think it's some strange thing when we find ourselves in a fiery trial. It's going to happen. This simply is God's helpful instruction to us, to not panic or wonder what is going on. We are going through a trial, and it's fiery. Remember, it's to purify our lives.
(4) The fourth one is found in 1st John 3.
1st John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
1st John 3:3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
This last reference is one connected with the fact that as God's children, we will one day be changed, and we will be like Him when we see Him. And, please notice what's said in 1st John 3:3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
The hope of being with the Lord has a purifying effect upon us. We know that He is coming, and that knowledge helps us to purify ourselves. This is why it's so important to keep in mind the clear Biblical teaching that Jesus is coming back again soon.
Some questions:
1. What did you learn from these verses today about trials.?
2. What were you reminded about from these verses today?
3. What application is the Lord showing you to take from these verses?
4. Isn't it wonderful that God wants to improve our lives, to purify them?
5. Which of us does not realize the need to be made purer than we are at this moment?
A prayer:
Our Father in heaven, how great and loving You are towards us Your children. You took us out of darkness, and made us light. You then begin the process of growing us up, and conforming us into the image of Jesus Christ. Though the trials are fiery and not pleasant, they nonetheless yield wonderful benefits in our lives. They make us more like Your Son Jesus. Thank You for Your work in our lives Lord. In Jesus name, amen.
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia.
