In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.
Throughout my Christian walk, to my shame, I have lost hours and hours of sleep because my favorite sports team lost the big game. A reasonable person would question that but the Preacher in Ecclesiastes had this to say about it. If they win, rejoice. If they lose, rejoice. That is because God is a Sovereign Lord who controls all things. He chose the winner. He chooses times of plenty and times of famine and hardship. In the prosperity, he wants our praise. In the trial, he wants our attention. In both very different circumstances there is one very unchanged fact. The Lord God loves us all with a steadfast love, whether we have plenty or none, and whether we love him or not. That is what steadfast means.
I know that some of you are in either of these two situations. If the Lord has blessed you, praise him for it and tell others how he has blessed you. If you have hardship, cry out to him about it and tell others how he has blessed you by carrying you through it. In both very different circumstances, the very same gospel can be proclaimed with the very same joy because there is a God who gives us salvation, and a God who takes away our sins. So, no matter the circumstance, let us love God with the same love; steadfast.
Dear Lord, thank you for your steadfast love in all our days. Help us to rejoice when times are good and when you are teaching us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church