This was Satan's wicked question about that righteous man of old. But there are many today who deserve the same question! They love God in a fashion because he prospers them—but if things went badly? They'd throw away all their boasted faith in God.

As long as life has gone smoothly since their supposed conversion, they'll love God in their poor, carnal way. But let adversity come, and they rebel against the Lord! Their love is the love of the table, not of the host—a love for the cupboard, not for the master of the house.

But the true Christian? He expects his reward in the next life and hardship in this one. Mark this well: the old covenant promised prosperity, but the new covenant promises adversity. Remember Christ's words: "Every branch in me that bears fruit"—What does he do? "He prunes it, that it may bring forth more fruit." If you're bearing fruit, you will endure affliction.

"Alas!" you say. "That's a terrible prospect!" But this affliction works out such precious results that the Christian who experiences it must learn to rejoice in tribulations. Because as your tribulations abound, so your consolations abound by Christ Jesus!

Rest assured: if you are a child of God, you will be no stranger to the rod. Sooner or later, every bar of gold must pass through the fire. Fear not! Rather rejoice that such fruitful times are in store for you. In them you'll be weaned from earth and made fit for heaven. You'll be delivered from clinging to the present and made to long for those eternal things which are so soon to be revealed to you.

When you feel that in this present life you do serve God for nothing, you will then rejoice in the infinite reward of the future.