In an era where it is reported that middle class Americans enjoy a higher standard of living than the kings of centuries ago, it is easy to fall into the trap that everything worth having should come easily, or cheaply, or freely. We want to be successful, wildly successful, and work only 2 hours a day. We want a good marriage, and also to watch hours of TV each day. We want to raise wonderful children, by sending them off to a public school where others will do the work of raising them.
We think we should be mature Christ-followers at the cost of an hour’s church gathering and a quick prayer before bedtime each night (when it’s not already too late, that is).
But character does not grow on it’s own. It is forged, forged in the midst of trial and hardship. Such character is indeed worth more than gold, but few value it enough to pay the required price. 1 Peter 1:6-7 (NIV) tells us, “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
Jesus taught of the kingdom of heaven that those who are wise would be like the merchant who discovered a priceless pearl and went out and “sold everything he had and bought it”
Isobel Kuhn sold all she had and found Christ in her sufferings. Every time I read In the Arena (I’m on my 3rd, maybe 4th reading), I am inspired and challenged and convicted to properly treasure God and find Him in radical obedience. I hope you will be similarly affected when you read In the Arena.