To pass the tests that God has put before us
There is nothing in life that has no purpose. When bad things happen to us, it could be that God is testing us. Throughout the Bible we read that God continually tests His people. Words like trials, temptation, refining and testing occurs more than 200 times in the Bible. It records how many people have gone through great trials including Joseph, Ruth, Esther and Daniel.
We may be tested by major changes, delayed promises, impossible problems, unanswered prayers, underserved criticisms and even senseless tragedies. How we respond to the tests is important.
To be good stewards of what God has placed under our care
Our time on earth, our energy, intelligence, talents, opportunities, etc are all gifts from God that He has entrusted to our care and management.
Psa 24:1 The world and all that is in it belong to the LORD; the earth and all who live on it are his.
This truth is evident when we see that we do not bring anything out of this world when we die. We don’t bring along our possessions, not even our own body, which is returned to dust.
Job could praise God even when he lost everything because he was aware that everything belonged to the Lord in the first place.
Job 1:21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return; the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”
Jesus taught about the parable of the talents to illustrate this truth as well. Whatever God has given us in this life is for us to use for His purposes, not for us to hoard or to use for our own purposes.
{cke_protected_1} {cke_protected_2}Mat 25:14-30 “For it will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property; (15) to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. (16) He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more. (17) So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more. (18) But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. (19) Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. (20) And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ (21) His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.’ (22) And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ (23) His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.’ (24) He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow; (25) so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ (26) But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed? (27) Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. (28) So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. (29) For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. (30) And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.’