PRAISE IS A TEST
Proverbs 27:21 - The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold, And each is tested by the praise accorded him.
Here in this proverb we see a powerful lesson on testing. There are certain environments that test us. Many things in this world have environments that test them. Silver has the fining pot. Gold has the furnace. And the man is tested by the praise of others. Testing is needed, and it is normative. Even our marriages have seasons of testing. I think sometimes the temptation is to hide the fact that in our marriages and in life in general, we get tested.
Testing reveals, exposes, and refines. It is actually a good thing to the person who is after what is truly authentic. Testing feels like the enemy, but it is actually the friend of what is true. I don’t know many who enjoy testing, but to the one who understands its purpose…it is a tremendous blessing. It is a blessing to perceive that you are being tested and to be able to respond with acceptance, knowing that the one administering the test is still in control. To be tested and to not know it can lead to panic. I thank God for times of testing, especially in marriage; even more so, to be tested and to be aware…in the midst of it.
The odd thing in this verse is that praise can be a test. Praise doesn’t feel like a test, but it is very much so a test. It is especially a test to the soul who craves affirmation and then he receives praise. Praise pulls out of you what is truly in you. Praise reveals the true desires of the heart. I have seen couples who pretend to have a marriage of perfection only to receive the praise and admiration of others. Those tend to become the marriages that truly fail the test.
May God give us lives and marriages that see testing as a good thing. May He give us an awareness of our tests in life so that we will respond accordingly. May we arise out of our test like gold refined by fire.
In Christ name,
Amen
Here in this proverb we see a powerful lesson on testing. There are certain environments that test us. Many things in this world have environments that test them. Silver has the fining pot. Gold has the furnace. And the man is tested by the praise of others. Testing is needed, and it is normative. Even our marriages have seasons of testing. I think sometimes the temptation is to hide the fact that in our marriages and in life in general, we get tested.
Testing reveals, exposes, and refines. It is actually a good thing to the person who is after what is truly authentic. Testing feels like the enemy, but it is actually the friend of what is true. I don’t know many who enjoy testing, but to the one who understands its purpose…it is a tremendous blessing. It is a blessing to perceive that you are being tested and to be able to respond with acceptance, knowing that the one administering the test is still in control. To be tested and to not know it can lead to panic. I thank God for times of testing, especially in marriage; even more so, to be tested and to be aware…in the midst of it.
The odd thing in this verse is that praise can be a test. Praise doesn’t feel like a test, but it is very much so a test. It is especially a test to the soul who craves affirmation and then he receives praise. Praise pulls out of you what is truly in you. Praise reveals the true desires of the heart. I have seen couples who pretend to have a marriage of perfection only to receive the praise and admiration of others. Those tend to become the marriages that truly fail the test.
May God give us lives and marriages that see testing as a good thing. May He give us an awareness of our tests in life so that we will respond accordingly. May we arise out of our test like gold refined by fire.
In Christ name,
Amen
by Marc Stern
Posted in Marriage
Recent
Archive
2023
January
WHO WANTS TO LIVE FOREVER?RESOLVING CONFLICT AND DEALING WITH EVILWHAT KIND OF FRUIT DO YOU HAVE?GOD IS PROUD OF HIS SONPEACE IS A FUNCTION OF FOCUSTHE HEALING POWER OF JESUSGOD CALLS YOU BY NAMESMOKE AND MIRRORSBE A LIGHTWISE WORDSEXODUSCHOOSING THE RIGHT PATHGOD SEES AND HEARSWHO IS THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM?WARNING AGAINST FOLLY
February
March
HE HAS A PLAN FOR YOUTHE PLACE OF COMFORT AND SAFETYIT'S THE LITTLE THINGSBE ALERTMY GOD IS NOT TOO SMALLWHEN TO SPEAK AND WHEN NOT TO SPEAKGOD IS GRACIOUS TO USKEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUTSTAND STRONG FOR YOUR FAITHOUR HOPEDO I DO WHAT THE LORD ASKS OF ME?DON'T BE A SCHEMERA TREASURE HUNTLISTEN AND FOLLOWWORDS OF COMFORT OR WARNINGTHE POSSESSOR OCCUPIES AND FILLS THE POSSESSEDUNDIVIDED LOYALTY TO GODONE CONCESSION STAND
April
OUR GOD IS HOLY AND JUSTA CAUSE FOR OBEDIENCETELL THE COMING GENERATIONTHE PARABLE OF THE RICH FOOLSHINE YOUR FACE UPON USLISTEN UP!CHECK WITH GOD FIRST - HE KNOWS MORE THAN WE DOPSALM 86THAT IS ENOUGH SAIDDO YOU REMEMBER?TRANSITIONSSERVE ONE ANOTHERPROVERBS“Insignificant Does Not Equal Insignificant” (Judges 6)
May
JESUS IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU!FINISHING WELLARE YOU THE TEACHER OF ISRAEL AND DO NOT UNDERSTAND THESE THINGS?FORGETTING GOD IS DANGEROUS TO YOUR HEALTHREPENTANCE BRINGS MERCYGOD'S SOVEREIGN TIMING IS ALWAYS RIGHTWHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF?A GODLY FATHERJESUS CARES FOR US - HE'S OUR SHEPHERDWHO DO YOU LISTEN TO?CARELESS SPEECHCONTINUE TO SERVE GODUNDIGNIFIED, HUMILIATED, AND GLORIFYING GOD!CLEAR PROMISESMEPHIBOSHETH AND THE KINGTRUST IN GOD'S LEADINGJESUS DOES THE FATHER'S WILL DEMONSTRATING LOVE FOR HIS MOTHER AND WAS GIVEN A KING'S BURIAL
June
A CLEAR PURPOSEWHAT IS TRUE WISDOMTHIS IS THE GOD WE SERVEHANDLING RELIGIOUS OPPRESSIONDO EVERYTHING FOR THE LORDMAY OUR FACES SHOW LIKE AN ANGELARE YOU FEEDING YOUR FAMILY - OR BUILDING A CATHEDRAL?FREEDOM FROM SLAVERY AND FREEDOM FROM SINUNITY TAKES ACTIONTRY IT, IT WORKSGOD'S WORDA PSALM OF KING DAVIDJEWS AND GENTILES AND SALVATIONARE YOU COMFORTABLE ENOUGH?THE GREED OF GEHAZIWORSHIPPING A KNOWN GODGOD KEEPS HIS PROMISESREASONS WHY WE SHOULD PRAISE THE LORDGOD'S AMAZING CREATION
No Comments