Silversmith Pouring Molten Silver from a CrucibleBible World
17:3Proverbs 17:3
The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
The Lord tests human hearts in the same way the fining pot proves silver and the furnace proves gold. His testing works through time and circumstances and through permitted affliction, temptation, trial, and suffering. It exposes hidden thoughts, flaws of character, selfishness mingled in plans and actions, and true worth, distinguishing what is good from what is base and making character and conduct plain to view. As refining fire separates gold from worthless material, this testing consumes what is impure, worthless, false, and wrong and separates it from the true gold, leaving character brighter and strengthening what is valuable. The defects thus revealed are to be corrected and refined by grace, so that character is purified to reflect divine love.
This testing is for good and can bring people nearer to Jesus, though some may faint under discouragement. The very presence of trial shows the Lord sees something valuable that He can develop, testing whether the person can be shaped for His work and service. It prepares them to serve others and to endure greater conflicts and hardship. Jesus knows what trials are needed to accomplish this refining work. Grace is willing to be tested and searched by the Lord, while reluctance to be searched is perilous.
When faith is tested by a call to sacrifice and self-denial in time of need, those who sacrifice are honored with a share in His work, while those who refuse are also tested until their conduct becomes as clear to human eyes as it already is to the Lord who reads the heart. Crystal Springs serves as such a furnace, testing character, exposing selfishness, revealing what is good, and showing that this testing is an essential work. Suffering permitted for good strengthens faith, while prosperity can make people too comfortable to leave home and labor for others.
The Lord tests human hearts in the same way the fining pot proves silver and the furnace proves gold. His testing works through time and circumstances and through permitted affliction, temptation, trial, and suffering. It exposes hidden thoughts, flaws of character, selfishness mingled in plans and actions, and true worth, distinguishing what is good from what is base and making character and conduct plain to view. As refining fire separates gold from worthless material, this testing consumes what is impure, worthless, false, and wrong and separates it from the true gold, leaving character brighter and strengthening what is valuable. The defects thus revealed are to be corrected and refined by grace, so that character is purified to reflect divine love.
This testing is for good and can bring people nearer to Jesus, though some may faint under discouragement. The very presence of trial shows the Lord sees something valuable that He can develop, testing whether the person can be shaped for His work and service. It prepares them to serve others and to endure greater conflicts and hardship. Jesus knows what trials are needed to accomplish this refining work. Grace is willing to be tested and searched by the Lord, while reluctance to be searched is perilous.
When faith is tested by a call to sacrifice and self-denial in time of need, those who sacrifice are honored with a share in His work, while those who refuse are also tested until their conduct becomes as clear to human eyes as it already is to the Lord who reads the heart. Crystal Springs serves as such a furnace, testing character, exposing selfishness, revealing what is good, and showing that this testing is an essential work. Suffering permitted for good strengthens faith, while prosperity can make people too comfortable to leave home and labor for others.