“In
the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider
God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find
out anything that will be after him.” -Ecclesiastes 7:14 (ESV).
As
Christians, we need to cultivate the perspective of not being
discouraged when times are hard for us; neither should we be “holier
than thou” or arrogant when things go well with us. “The
Preacher” who wrote Ecclesiastes said God “made the day of
prosperity as well as the day of adversity.”
Dr.
Warren W. Wiersbe, a noted Bible scholar, comments: “God balances
our lives by giving us enough blessings to keep us happy and enough
burdens to keep us humble.” (The
Wiersbe Bible Commentary: “Ecclesiastes”.
Colorado Springs: David C. Cook. 2007, p. 1131).
Consider
the example of Job in the Bible. In trying to explain his dire
circumstances after he lost everything, Job’s friends used an old
widely-held maxim that indicated those in God’s favor prosper and
those who are out of His favor suffer.
We
have not moved far from that stance in our modern-day thinking. We
still at times are judgmental of those with great prosperity as well
as those who, as we say of the indigent and poor, “are
down-and-out.”
Paul
the Apostle touched strongly facing both adversity and prosperity in
his letter to the Philippians: “Not
that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned n whatever
situation, I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I
know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the
secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all
things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:11-13,
ESV).
Even
though we cannot know the future, as the writer of Ecclesiastes
reminds us, we “know who holds the future,” as the words of the
gospel song remind us.
Prayer:
God, give me confidence in You and Your promises. Whether I have
adversity or prosperity, let me know that the future is in Your
hands. In the present, help me walk worthily of my calling, so that,
whether in hard times or easy times I know assuredly that you are
with me, I follow your footsteps, and You bear me up and carry me.”
Amen. -Ethelene Dyer Jones 09.23.2016
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