In 1 Peter 1, we find another aspect of trials that is most helpful for our souls and a balance given that is necessary to keep in mind. After encouraging the saints by telling them that they have “an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you” (vs. 4), and that the saints themselves are “kept by the power of God through faith” (vs. 5) for that inheritance, Peter reminds them that they are still in this world, and thus subject to “manifold temptations.”
“If Need Be” Trials
In connection with these manifold temptations (or trials), Peter uses the words “if need be” (1 Peter 1:6). These three words bring out one aspect of the trials through which God puts us, in that He sees in us that which needs adjustment or correction. It may be positive sin, for we all know in our own hearts “the sin which doth so easily beset us” (Heb. 12:11Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, (Hebrews 12:1)). In His government and because we belong to Him, God may allow something in our lives because we are pursuing a willful course. However, it may be that we are pleasing the Lord, but the Lord wants more fruit, and thus, “Every branch in Me . . . that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit” (John 15:22Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. (John 15:2)). It may also be that He wishes to get our attention, in order that we may learn more of Him. Whatever the reason, He alone knows the “need be” of each trial in our lives and allows that which accomplishes His purpose if we accept the trial from Him.
Trials for Faith
However, the next verse mentions “the trial of [our] faith” (1 Peter 1:7). Here is something different, for no “need be” is involved. Rather, it is God testing our faith in order to prove the reality of what He has given us and of the new life that we have in Christ. If the believer always had an easy life and everything went well for Him, it might well provoke from the world the same reaction that Satan gave to the Lord concerning Job. When God called to Satan’s attention the exemplary life of Job, Satan replied, “Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land” (Job 1:910). The trial that God subsequently allowed in Job’s life proved, among other things, the reality of Job’s faith.
So, today, God may allow trials in the lives of His own, even when they are walking well before Him. When they accept the trial from Him and honor Him in spite of the difficulties, it only proves that their eye is on the Lord, and not on their circumstances. We note too that their faith is “much more precious than of gold that perisheth” (1 Peter 1:7). God values that faith, and it is precious in His eyes to see His own fully trust Him, no matter what He may allow in their lives. In this way He is glorified and a real testimony is rendered to the world (and to other believers) as to what God can work in a believer. Scripture tells us that “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:2828And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)), and when a believer acts on this promise and trusts God implicitly, God is honored before the world. This type of trial will be found “unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:7), for when the judgment seat of Christ takes place and rewards are given, no doubt some of the highest rewards will go to saints who have patiently lived for God’s glory while enduring the severest of trials.
Both Kinds of Trials Present
In these two things — the “need be” and the “trial of your faith” — we find, then, different aspects of trial in the lives of believers. Often we are tempted to look at our trials in only one of these two aspects. We may look at every trial as having a “need be” and feel that the Lord is seeking to bring something before us. Or, we may regard anything adverse in our lives as simply a test of faith, and perhaps even as an attack of Satan, who allegedly is seeking to spoil our work for the Lord.
I would suggest that in most, and perhaps in every, trial in our lives, both of these two aspects are reflected. On the one hand, there is usually some “need be” present, and we must get into the Lord’s presence to find it out. On the other hand, there is also the “trial of [our] faith,” where God is proving the reality of what is within. We see both of these aspects of trial in Job’s case. As far as Satan was concerned, the trial only proved to him that Job would not react in a wrong way, even if all his material possessions were taken away, his children killed, and his own health ruined. But then God took over and used the trial to teach Job something about which Satan knew nothing.
So today, others who look on may see the trials in our lives as being a trial of our faith, and no doubt this is true. However, we ourselves, in getting before God about it, may well learn the “need be” that only God can see. In most of our trials there is a mixture of the two.
The Onlooker
For us who are looking on, let us be slow to judge the meaning of a trial in another. Only the individual involved, in weighing the matter in the Lord’s presence, can see where one aspect leaves off and the other takes over. It is tempting to judge another by our own standards and observations, as did Job’s three friends. As we all know, their comments, although well-meant, were wide of the mark and did not help at all. Elihu, who was finally able to shed light on the matter, wisely did not try to interpret what God was doing. Rather, he pointed Job back to the Lord, telling him first of all to justify God in the whole matter, and then to say to Him, “That which I see not teach Thou me” (Job 34:3232That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more. (Job 34:32)). In doing this, Job was able to see the trial through God’s eyes, and eventually get the blessing God intended. Let us be ready to do the same!
W. J. Prost