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The Need for Adversity
The Need for Adversity
Solomon’s Proverbs are a source of introspection: “And he that is wise winneth souls” (11:30). Are we wise? “All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; But Jehovah weigheth the spirits” (16:2). According to the righteous scales of Jehovah, would I be found balanced, or would I be as Belshazzar, of whom Jehovah said, “thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting” (Daniel 5:27)?
Concerning Adversity, i.e., evil, misery, distress, or injury, Solomon said, “In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; yea, God hath made the one side by side with the other” Eccl. 7:14. Prosperity and Adversity are both by God’s appointment. Concerning the handling of adversity, Solomon says, “If thou faint in the day of adversity, Thy strength is small” (Proverbs 24:10).
Although adversity is a fact of life, it is often one facet of life mankind would just as soon avoid, but though it is not a relished condition, it remains a teacher of introspection.
Introspection is implied by the term “consider.” To consider is to know (properly to ascertain by seeing) Strong’s. Moses once said, concerning a “nation void of counsel, And there is no understanding in them,” “Oh that they were wise, that they understood this, That they would consider their latter end” (Deut. 32:28-29). When Asaph reflected upon the perils he suffered, as opposed to the prosperity and strength of the wicked, he was perplexed, i.e., “why is it so that the righteous suffer, and the wicked prosper? Why is it so?” Asaph concluded, saying, “When I pondered to understand this, It was troublesome in my sight until I came into the sanctuary of God; Then I perceived their end. Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction. How they are destroyed in a moment! They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors! Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when aroused, You will despise their form” (Psalm 73:16-20).
Why does adversity come? Individually, it may come from outside sources over-which a man has no control, i.e., illnesses, robberies, accidents, or maybe from the acts of evil men. However, when adversity comes upon a nation, the culprit is, more often than not, sin: "And they will say, 'Because they forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who brought them from the land of Egypt, and they adopted other gods and worshiped them and served them, therefore He has brought all this adversity on them'" (NASV, KJ and ASV use the term “evil”) 2 Chron. 7:22.
However, if you are encountering adversity due to your faith, the apostle Peter said, “For let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil-doer, or as a meddler in other men's matters: but if a man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this name.” ret
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