0856. Tribulation Worketh Patience
Tribulation Worketh Patience
"And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience" (Rom_5:3).
Some one has said: "Sweet are the uses of adversity." This is true. The Lord has many things to teach us through our sorrows; many lessons through our hardships. There are three things we wish to put before you, as follows:
1. The greatest danger time is during prosperity. There are very few of us who would choose adversity as preferable to prosperity. Even if the wise man did say, "It is better to go into the house of mourning than into a house of feasting;" it is at least, more agreeable to the flesh to enjoy prosperity than to endure adversity.
Yet we readily grant that God's desire is that we may prosper. John wrote to his beloved Gaius and said: "I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth" (3Jn_1:2). The Word of God gives admonition that we should meditate in the Law of God day and night, and then we shall make our way prosperous and then we shall have good success.
All of this, however, does not lessen the fact that in the hour of prosperity we are in danger of losing our touch with God. A solemn warning is given in Deu_8:9-11 : "A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass. When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God for the good land which He hath given thee. Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping His commandments, and His judgments, and His statutes, which I command thee this day."
God foresaw that Israel would gladly follow Him in the day of her struggles but that when she waxed fat she would kick and throw off His yoke.
The Book of Judges gives us the story of Israel when the judges ruled. This story is one that follows much the same line throughout. We will give a sample of God's methods with Israel.
In chapter Jdg_3:7, we read, "The children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord;" in Jdg_3:8, "The anger of the Lord was hot against Israel;" in Jdg_3:9, "The children of Israel cried unto the Lord;" in Jdg_3:9 again, "The Lord raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, * * even Othniel, the son of Kenaz."
The same course of events is seen again beginning in Jdg_3:12,–"The children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord;" Jdg_3:14, "The children of Israel served Eglon, the king of Moab;" Jdg_3:15, "The children of Israel cried unto the Lord;" Jdg_3:15, "The Lord raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera."
The same story is in the 4th chapter: Jdg_3:1, "The children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord;" Jdg_3:2, "The Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin;" Jdg_3:3, "The children of Israel cried unto the Lord;" Jdg_3:4, Deborah was raised to deliver them. You find the same trend frequently in the Book of Judges.
It seems strange that Israel never learned her lesson. Every time God blessed her and brought her deliverance and gave her ease from her sufferings Israel ere long turned her back on God. Then she was chastened; then she prayed; then God delivered her; then she enjoyed prosperity a little while; then she sinned; then God punished her; then He delivered her, etc.–an endless chain.
What is true in Judges is true generally speaking. Why is it that we cannot remain true to God when our houses and our lands increase, and when prosperity and riches are ours?
2. The trial of our faith is precious. "Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience" (Jam_1:3). Every testing which God sends a believer is worth far more than gold. The Psalmist said: "My feet had well nigh slipped when I beheld the prosperity of the wicked." "They are not in trouble like other men," "their eyes stand out with fatness." But the Psalmist understood their latter end when he went into the House of God.
How much better is it to suffer; how much better to be thrown into trials and tribulations. This will work in us the fruit of patience and the other Christian graces which will magnify the Lord. Therefore, when trials come, let us thank God and be patient in tribulation (see Rom_12:12).
3. We should never fret ourselves because of evildoers. The evildoers may press us and come down upon us, but we should trust in the Lord; and delight ourselves in Him; and commit our way unto the Lord; and rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him. We should suffer tribulations gladly, for evildoers shall be cut off. "For yet a little while and the wicked shall not be. Their sword shall enter into their own heart." "The arms of the wicked shall be broken." "The transgressors shall be destroyed." So, in patience let us possess our souls.
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR