FIRST STEPSpageA443. What Happens When You Give? When you give with the right motives,you will experience joy and God’s generous blessings (see 2 Corinthians 9:614, page 1055).4. How Should You View Material Wealth? Accumulating wealth shouldnever be a high priority because it is eternally worthless (see Matthew 6:1934, page 845).5. Can You Enjoy Wealth? God may bless you materially, but you areresponsible for using your material blessings wisely (see 1 Timothy 6:17-19,page 1097).Many Christians have the mistaken idea that once they make a commitment toJesus Christ, life will be smooth sailing from that day forward. This is certainlynot the case. While it is true that walking with Christ will help us avoid many ofthe problems we used to face, we are still going to experience what the Biblecalls “trials.”Trials may come in the form of a crisis, a sudden illness, the loss of a lovedone, or some drastic change in your life. You may go through a difficult timewhen you don’t feel God’s presence, when church may not be as exciting as itonce was for you, or your prayers seem to go no higher than the ceiling. Thismay cause you to wonder if you have angered God or if he has left you. But Goddoes not allow us to experience trials because he wants to see us suffer. Rather,he allows these difficulties into our lives to help us grow spiritually—to learn tolive by faith, not by feelings. Look up the following passages to see the role trials play in our lives. Notice also God’s promise to be with us during these timesof trouble.1. Trials Sharpen Our Faith. Hardships develop our character and purifyour faith (see 1 Peter 1:3-7, page 1133).2. Trials Help Us Comfort Others. Experiencing suffering deepens ourcompassion for others who suffer (see 2 Corinthians 1:3-7, page 1047).3. Trials Are Survivable. We must keep our eternal perspective through thetough times (see 2 Corinthians 4:7-18, page 1049).4. Trials Test Our Foundation. When we ground our lives in Christ, we canweather any storm (see Luke 6:48-49, page 909).5. Jesus Is with Us in Life’s Storms. We are never outside of God’s watchfuleye and his abiding presence (see Mark 4:35-41, page 879).6. God Gives Hope to Our Troubled Hearts. We can have peace of mind inthe middle of our greatest trials (see John 14:1-4, page 953).
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