that the proving of your faith, much more precious than of gold which perishes, though it be proved by fire, be found to praise and glory and honour in [the] revelation of Jesus Christ
Peter has just spoken of grief and many kinds of trials, and here he gives the reason for them: God tests faith the way a refiner tests gold. He values that faith far above gold, and He has fixed a day when its worth will be shown.
Why the Grief Comes at All
Peter says the grief comes only when there is a need for it. One writer finds comfort in that, and turns it into a question each of us should ask.
It is a fact that we will never be weighed down by many kinds of trials unless there is a need for it. God does not test us on a whim. He does not enjoy our testings and our sorrow, or even correcting us, rebuking us or disciplining us. Hebrews 12 assures us of that. So each of us has to say, If God did not see some spiritual need to be met, I would not be facing this trial and feeling its heavy pressure.
Faith Valued Above Gold
Gold lasts, yet Peter calls it "gold that perishes." One writer takes that word seriously and asks what it makes faith worth.
Gold does not perish easily. No. When they dug up poor old Tutankhamen, they found him surrounded by splendid things. There were objects of papyrus and fine linen from Egypt, brown with age, crumbling at a touch. But there were also objects of gold, and they were barely marked compared with everything else in that famous tomb. Gold lasts a long time, yet it perishes. The clear implication is that faith does not. Faith is much more precious than gold that perishes. God treasures your faith, and "precious" is the word He uses for it. In God's sight, faith is something of very, very great price.
Testing is not an accident that may or may not fall on a believer. Another writer states it as a rule with no exceptions.
Faith's place is on earth, and God tests it. He never gives faith without testing it. That testing produces fruit, and the fruit will be seen later, when everything is brought to light at the appearing of Jesus Christ.
Fire That Refines
Fire sounds destructive. A refiner's fire is not. He lights it because the metal is worth saving, and one writer applies that to the believer.
Why does the goldsmith take such trouble and spend so long over the pot where he refines his gold? Because the gold is so valuable. He wants to remove the impurities and leave it at its finest. God allows His people to go into that pot, and He tests them, even by fire. He does it because in His view faith is worth so much... The truth is this: if we Christians suffer no testing, we will never be more than weaklings in spiritual terms. The testing itself is what makes us strong.
Found, Not Lost
Peter's word is "found." That meets a real feeling in long illness or suffering: the sense that the time is wasted.
We tend to think that a time of deep trial is all wasted time, because it may keep us out of active service for the Lord. No, says God, it will be "found to praise" at the appearing of Jesus Christ.
Praise, Glory and Honor — To Whom?
Who receives the praise, glory and honor? The verse does not say, and commentators read it in two ways. Some take it as glory brought to Christ. (Both writers below quote an older translation, which reads "praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.")
It says, it "shall be found to praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ." The thing that seemed to be lost is going to be found. What a finding it will be when that hour comes! It will be found to praise and honour and glory. Whose? That of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the hour when He appears in glory, He will have His own glory, the glory of the Father, and the glory of the holy angels. Even so, He will not be too great to wear a little glory brought to Him by these things we thought were lost.
Others read it as the believer's reward. They rest the point on the word Peter chooses: not the Lord's coming to take His own, but His revelation.
Note again that praise, honour, and glory are connected with Christ's revelation. His coming to receive us and take us to the Father's house is supreme grace. At His revelation He will weigh our faithfulness and reward it. Both will certainly come true, but God's righteous government is quite different from His sovereign grace.
Summary
- Needed. Grief never comes on a whim. It comes because God sees a need in you that must be met.
- Valued. The fire falls on faith because God prizes it. Gold survived a pharaoh's tomb, yet gold perishes; faith does not.
- Refined. Untested faith stays weak. The refiner's fire burns off the impurities and makes a believer strong.
- Found. Time that looked wasted, and service you could not give, is not lost. God will find it and turn it to praise.
- Displayed. The finding happens when Jesus Christ is revealed. Some read the praise, glory and honor as brought to Him; others as reward given to the faithful.