Greater Than Gold

"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.  These have come so that your faith — of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire — may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”  1 Peter 1:6-7

The 2016 Summer Olympics recently concluded in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  It was exciting to watch the best athletes from around the world compete on the grandest stage in sports in pursuit of winning an Olympic gold medal.  

Gold is the most frequently mentioned metal in the Scriptures. It is referenced over 330x in the Old Testament and 25x in the New Testament.   Gold, a precious metal, was used extensively by Solomon when he built the temple (1 Kings 6:20-35), when Aaron fashioned an idol, a golden calf for Israel, to replace God (Exodus 32:4), and when the wise men visited baby Jesus they brought him gifts including gold (Matthew 1:21).

Peter instructs and encourages believers facing persecution about the purpose for the trials they face.  They come for our good to test the genuineness of our faith.  The Christian life is not easy.  It’s hard.  We should expect to face trials and suffering.  “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him” (Philippians 1:29). 

Gold is refined by intense heat and fire to remove impurities.  Similarly, God uses trials in our lives to refine our character, chip away at selfishness, pride, and make us more like His Son, Jesus Christ, by depending on the Father, rather than ourselves, for everything.  Here, Peter notes something very awesome: your faith is of greater worth than gold, which perishes when refined by fire.   

You see, our faith in Jesus Christ will be molded and tried through the trials we go through in life. The culmination of our faith in Christ leads to praising Jesus, glorying Jesus, and honoring Jesus when He returns. He alone is worthy of our worship.  This three-fold praise only occurs here in 1 Peter, and nowhere else in the New Testament. 

Your faith in Christ, which is a gift from God, is eternal and more valuable than even gold.  So we “…rejoice that we (you) participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that we (you) may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:13).  With this spirit and focus we press on through trials asking God for His ever sufficient help to get us through each one (2 Corinthians 12:9-10) and fix our eyes on Jesus, the chief Sufferer (Hebrews 12:2-3).  Why?  Because your faith is greater than gold!