One
of the several methods our spiritual enemies use to oppose our sanctification
is making us believe that the consequences of our sins are just
"trials"
God tried men of the caliber of Job; the Lord would not bother himself to try men like me, who would disappoint him. Job was a man worthy of being tried, which is why God used him to embarrass Satan.
God does not try his creatures in order for Him to know how they are, but so that other creatures know it. There are some who believe that the bad things that can happen to a human are "trials", so that God may know how we would react under certain circumstances. There is no such thing. When God permits trials, it is to inform others of our reactions. The best case in which to study this issue is with Job. This man was not put to the test so that God would know how he would react; God knew that beforehand. Job was tried to demonstrate to Satan how creatures that were of a lower category than an angel, were obedient and grateful with God even in adverse circumstances. God allowed the trial that Job suffered, in order to demonstrate Job's loyalty to God in spite of what he was going through.
Satan is a creature that in spite of having had greatness and privileges rebelled against God, because he wanted even more. That is why God, who knew perfectly well how Job was going to react, allowed Satan to deprive him of all he had. I say that God knew how Job was going to react, because in 1:8, when God speaks with Satan about Job, says there was none like him in the Earth, that he is his servant and that he was a perfect and upright man, fearful of God and eschew evil. If God thought that way about Job, it is evident that he was not trying to see how Job was, but he was using Job to give a lesson in fidelity to Satan. God used Job to demonstrate how a creature of lesser level than Satan, was capable of continuing his faithfulness even if everything he had was taken from him and even if he suffered a bitter ailment.
It was a great honor to Job to have been able to serve God in order to show Satan a lesson in loyalty. The trial was the hardest ever known, but the honor of having served God in this matter, is the greatest reward a man could obtain.
"6
Now there was a day when the
sons of God came to present themselves before the
LORD, and Satan came also among
them.
7
And the LORD said unto
Satan, Whence
comest
thou? Then Satan answered the
LORD, and
said, From going to and fro in the
earth, and from walking up and
down in it.
8
And
the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there
is none like him in the Earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that
feareth God, and
escheweth
evil?
9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. 12 And the LORD said unto Satan: Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD." (Job 1:6-12)
God never needs to try a person with the objective of knowing who that person is. He knows how it is and how each person is going to react. When God allows a trial over a human it is to prove to others how that person behaves in that trial.
Some believers, erroneously, call them "trials" to the logical consequences of their sins and errors. God is not sending "trials" to these people, they are too weak for that and if that were so, they would shatter. They are suffering the consequences of their actions. God only permits that type of trial in persons with the quality of Job, because He knows that those that do not possess that quality will make him look bad if he tries them.
Remember, do not confuse the consequences of your sins and errors with trials like Job's, unless God can say that there is none like you in the Earth, because you are perfect, righteous, fearful of God and apart from evil. If you are not of that caliber, don't flatter yourself believing that your sorrows are trials. Avoid becoming vain.
True trials come from serving Christ knowingly. There are many believers that suffer the consequences of their sins, errors and insensibilities, but they take comfort in saying "they are trials" God gives them. Upon saying something so pointless the only thing they gain is to deceive themselves and all of those to whom they say it to.
The trials that Peter refers to in the following passage originate because of our honest, sensible and appropriate service to Christ not our stupidities, mistakes, sins or superstitions. True trials are bad things that occur for doing the right thing in the eyes of God, like when Paul was whipped in Philippi for casting a demon from a young slave woman, or when he was stoned for preaching the gospel. That the true trials come from serving God, is manifested in the fact that in verse 14 of the passage in question what is said is "If ye be reproached for the name of Christ…"; it is to say that true trials come as a consequence of the name of Christ.
"12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you; on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. 16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf." (I P 4:12-16)
What I said previously is further confirmed in verse 15, upon saying that none should endure as a murderer, thief, etc.; reaffirming in 16 when it says "Yet when any man suffer as a Christian…". It is clearly shown that what Peter was referring to is not what many today call "trials", but the real trial which originates in the correct service to God.
If a Christian knocks on a neighbor's door at five in the morning to preach the gospel and the neighbor slaps him, do not say that this is a "trial", because this is merely a consequence of his stupidity.
Others go through life drunk and at the age of fifty convert to Christ and don't drink anymore. Later they get cirrhosis and say that it is a "trial". These are not trials; they are a consequence of your past sin. Others have beliefs that are not based on the Bible, but pseudo-Christian superstitions. For example, they believe that if they carry the Bible with them, they will be protected from all harm as if the book were an amulet. They later go towards an evidently harmful place with the Bible in their hands and when something that was bound to happen to them occurs, say that these are "trials"
True trials always occur due to our service to God in the correct form, not due to our stupidity, sins, mistakes, false beliefs, etc..
It is human foolishness that
cannot, or better yet, does not want to link the sufferings of life
with the sins that are committed.
A Christian wanting to continue in a sin he likes, without losing his salvation, sometimes deceives himself by pretending that he does not believe that what he is doing is sin; and refusing to admit that there is a connection between what he is going through and his sin. If he admitted that link, it would convince him that God is telling him that what he is doing is sin; and then continue to sin although the divine message, could cost him his salvation, which he does not want to lose. That's why he doesn't admit that linkage and refuse to believe that doctrine.
They try make believe on the one hand that they are doing right, and don't do anything that would cause them their suffering; and on the other hand, that they are suffering inexplicably and mysteriously bitter sorrows "to try" them.