Adversity – A State of Ill-Fortune or Destitution
It is the attitude of Freemasonry that adversity should be accepted as a test of character and met with courage and prayer; and that a Mason must always go to the aid of a brother in adversity. Psalms 119:81-88 – Hebrews 12:5-11 – Job 30:25 – Romans 12:15
Biblical References
Psalms 119:81-88
81 My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.
82 Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?
83 For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes.
84 How many are the days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?
85 The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law.
86 All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.
87 They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts.
88 Quicken me after thy loving kindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.
Hebrews 12:5-11
5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
Job 30:25
Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? was not my soul grieved for the poor?
Romans 12:15
Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
~~ooOoo~~
This page is adapted from the Glossary at Phoenixmasonry — Used with permission.
