For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried

"For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried. Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins. Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place" (Psm. 66:10-12). There is a very good reason that we have things happen that are not a lot of fun to deal with, and that reason is that God wants us to come out of these ordeals "into a wealthy place." The wealth that God is trying to give us is a higher and purer degree of his love and joy inside us that we can freely distribute to an impoverished and dying world around us. The Proverbs speak of this divine wealth like this: "I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable [lasting] riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver" (Prov. 8:17-19). Regarding the trial of our faith and the wealth to be gained from them, consider these words of exhortation from the apostle Peter: "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with EXCEEDING JOY" (1 Pet. 4:12,13). Peter is speaking here of the ultimate wealth that is waiting for those who endure their trials faithfully, and continue to increase in the wealth of God's love and holiness. He elaborates on this point a little more, earlier in the same letter: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are KEPT by the power of God through faith UNTO SALVATION ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the END of your faith, even the salvation of your souls" (1 Pet. 1:3-9).

So it is clear that the ultimate wealth, which is the salvation of our souls, is dependent on us coming through our trials pure of heart, and thereby being found holy and full of God's love at the second coming of the Lord Jesus. Therein is the saying fulfilled that says, "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years" (Rev. 20:6). Jesus speaking of the end time, also made the same point and also clarified that not all of God's people will be found in that condition at his coming: "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved" (Mat. 24:12,13). And in consideration of both Peter's and Jesus' words on this matter, let's allow the beloved John to tell us the exact same thing: "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath THIS HOPE in him purifieth himself, EVEN AS he is pure" (1 Jn. 3:2,3). Seeing that David, Solomon, Peter, John, and Jesus are unanimous in the same truth about our trials and our salvation; let's don't forget the great apostle Paul, who will now put a nice topping on this truth for us: "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (1 Cor. 10:13). And just to be sure about the part that says, "God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able," the same apostle gives us the following assurance: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose... What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? ... Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? ... For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 8:28,31,35,38,39). And all that is left is, Amen.