Have you ever wondered what part you might be in the body of Christ? Are you an arm, a leg, maybe a toe or a finger? Maybe you’re a tooth! Regardless what part you may be, of one thing you can be certain – every part is important. If you’ve ever had a bad toothache you can understand this. It can be a real trial! When one part suffers, it affects the whole body. The pain from a toothache can be excruciating! It can hinder you from eating. Every bite you take is extremely painful.
What’s the first thing you do when you get a toothache? Well, usually, the immediate reaction is to try to discover the cause of it, then to give it extreme care in the hope that you can save it and not have to remove it.
God also does that with each of us who make up the body of Christ. When any of us starts giving trouble to the point where we are beginning to adversely affect other parts of His body, he gives us special care in the hope that we may recover and that He will not have to remove us from His body. Let’s read Luke 13:6-9: “He spoke also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he to the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbers it the ground? And he answering said to him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that you shall cut it down.”
Those who do not bear fruit, God takes away! But the good news is that God our Father is very merciful. He will work with us first. He is very patient and is not anxious to cut anyone off, not even the wicked, but prefers that they repent. He gives everyone time and care in the hope that they may change. He wants to save us from premature removal wherever possible.
Now, how do we give God trouble, like a toothache? Well, there are very many ways that we can give trouble, but for now, let’s just focus on one, that of our response to trials.
How do we respond to trials in our lives? Do we really do what God says to do when facing trials? Let’s look at some related scriptures: James 1:2-4: “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into different temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” Do any of us really count it all joy when we fall into different temptations? Do we say, “Great! A nice big trial! Wonderful!?
Let’s look at Luke 6:22-23: “Blessed are you, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice you in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers to the prophets.” Do we ever do that? Have we ever leaped for joy when we’ve been persecuted? Well, that’s what Christ said we ought to do, for great is our reward in Heaven.
When certain trials go on for a long time, our attitude can sometimes leave much to be desired. Knowing that God can intervene at anytime and end the trial and yet doesn’t do so, we can sometimes get quite upset with God.
But God wants to see His children grow to the point where we respond to trials as His first son, Christ, did. Not getting angry with Him, not murmuring, just patiently enduring our trials and not diminishing in love to Him not even by one little bit. Do you know which commandment is the most difficult to keep? To love God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your might, 24/7, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
Someone once said that we really cannot judge why any brother or sister may be suffering through any serious trial, because …. We don’t know what they may have prayed for! For example, if someone has prayed that God will help them to qualify for the highest position possible for them to achieve in His Kingdom, then they just may have to endure some really big trials!
Let’s look at Matthew 20:20-23: “Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. And he said to her, What will you? She said to him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on your right hand, and the other on the left, in your kingdom. But Jesus answered and said, You know not what you ask. Are you able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say to him, We are able. And he said to them, You shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.”
So you see, it all correlates. The greater the reward in God’s Kingdom, the greater will be the trials that we must successfully endure and overcome in this life! Surely you didn’t think that you’d just have to stay in the Church, keep God’s commandments and Holy Days and don’t eat pork, and for that you’d get a big, fat reward in God’s Kingdom? No, it doesn’t work like that.
So, here are some questions to think about.
Will God have to remove any of us prematurely, like a bad tooth that won’t respond to treatment? Or will we be among the wise, who really understand the purpose for trials, and who don’t get upset with God when He allows tough trials to persist? (Remember, He promises not to allow more than we are able to bear).
The really big question then is this:
Do we want lesser trials for a lesser reward? Or whatever trials God allows in our lives, in order for us to qualify for the best possible reward that our loving Father wants us to have?
The choice is up to us!
