“For herein peculiarly differ the sons of God from the reprobate, that the sons of God know both prosperity and adversity to be the gifts of God only, as Job witnesseth; and therefore in prosperity commonly they are not insolent nor proud, but even in the day of joy and rest they look for trouble and sorrow: neither yet, in the time of adversity, are they altogether left without comfort; but by one mean or other, God showeth to them that trouble shall have end. While contrariwise the reprobate, either taking all things of chance, or else, making an idol of their own wisdom, in prosperity are so puffed up that they forget God, without any care that trouble should follow; and in adversity they are so dejected, that they look for nothing but hell.”
John Knox (c. 1514-1572) in The Select Practical Writings of John Knox, excerpt from “A Fort for the Afflicted: An Exposition of the Sixth Psalm of David.”
Whether we read Luther in Germany, Calvin in Switzerland, or Knox in Scotland, the voices of the Reformation call people to adopt a biblical perspective on all aspects of life.
Here, one of the founders of the Presbyterian church calls “the sons of God” to realize that prosperity and adversity are both gifts from God. Why does this matter to us today?
We can never exhibit generosity until we have learned to relate rightly to that which comes to us. We must avoid idolatry and pride while treating everything that comes to us as a gift.