GOD OF THE CONTRAST 3
"Enjoy prosperity whenever you can (I.e. Be joyful in thy days of prosperity) and when hard times strikes, realize that God gives one as well as the other - so that everyone will realize that nothing is certain in this life." [Eccl 7:14]
In the last two episodes of the article on this subject, we outlined the acts of the God of Contrast and how these contrasts works in alignment with Divine purpose for our lives. No one of these extreme experience is meant to be permanent. Just as God permits one of the extremes of the contrast so also does He ordains the other extreme for the balance and maturity of man.
In the scriptures quoted above, we saw the reactions that is expected of man in responding to any of these two extremes of life. The wise preacher said that when we are on the mountain of prosperity and plenty, we should rejoice and enjoy its season maximally. To rejoice and enjoy one's self in times of prosperity is not difficult; it's so natural to rejoice and be glad when things are working out fine for us. It seems so natural and spontaneous for anyone who has what he needs per time to be glad.
However the instruction did not stop there. He proceeded by the inspiration of the Almighty God to say that our season of adversity, scarcity and hardship should not become seasons of murmuring and complaints but should be season of contemplation, consideration, retrospection and introspection. Elder James in his epistles came so strong on this issue in His opening chapter when he said that we should "Consider it great joy whenever we experience various trials." [James 1:2]
While the instructions seems so simple but it takes an understanding mind to respond accordingly. He didn't just say that we should count it a joy but that we should count it great joy when we are faced with various trials and not just one trial. This response demands serious meditation that will bring us into the light of divine perspective and purpose.
Many of us waste away our season of trials and tribulations because we are not so calm to wait on God to receive the understanding the purpose of same. God is a God of order and gives to each of us what we deserve per time for us to learn and grow into maturity as our faith is being tested.
The preacher noted that God sends both happiness and trouble (Eccl 7:14 GNB) I.e. they happen to us by His permission or approval. He noted also that God made one extreme side by side with the other (Eccl 7:14 AMP) and no one has the right to determine which of the extremes he will experience per time. He however opened our eyes to know that God does all for us to know that no one of these extremes is permanent in life. (Eccl 7:14 LB).
Our hope in times of challenges and hardship should come from the understanding that neither good times nor bad times are meant to last forever. They were meant to pass away and not to stay forever. God only permitted them in time to test and train us and also to strengthen our endurance. The fact that we experience bad times does not necessarily means we have sinned (while that may be the case) but it just means that God reckons with us as individuals.
When we get to the level of carefully considering the acts of God in our hard times, we will definitely end up with revelations that will give us joy and the joy that comes from God to us will strengthen us to navigate through and endure the rough and tough season without offending God with our murmuring or complaints. We will be so sure that God is still God in all situations.
To be continued!!!
