Trial of Faith

[1 Pet. 1:7] That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Y’Shua HaMashiach:
Trial is through testing, proving. That your faith so proved "may be found (once for all, as the result of its being proved on the judgment-day) unto (eventuating in) praise", namely, the praise to be bestowed by the Judge.
This does not mean that their faith was much more precious than gold, but that the testing of it, the process of showing whether it was or was not genuine, was a much more important and valuable process than that of testing gold in the fire. More important results were to be arrived at by it, and it was more desirable that it should be done.
Not that gold perishes by the process of being tried in the fire, for this is not the fact, and the connexion does not demand this interpretation. The idea is that gold, however valuable it is, is a perishable thing. It is not an enduring, imperishable, indestructible thing, like one’s faith. It may not perish in the fire, but it will in some way, for it will not endure for ever.
Though it "which perisheth, YET is tried with fire."
The meaning is that gold, though it will bear the action of fire, is yet a destructible thing, and will not endure for ever. It is more desirable to test one’s faith than it is gold, because it is more valuable. It pertains to that which is eternal and indestructible, and it is therefore of more importance to show its true quality, and to free it from every improper mixture.
If gold, though perishing (verse 18), is yet tried with fire in order to remove dross and test its genuineness, how much more does your faith, which shall never perish, need to pass through a fiery trial to remove whatever is defective, and to test its genuineness and full value?
Might be found unto praise means that is, might be found to be genuine, and such as to meet the praise or commendation of the final Judge.
That honor might be done to it before assembled worlds.
Glory – “Honor" is not so strong as "glory." As "praise" is in words, so "honor" is in deeds: honorary reward. That it might be rewarded with that glory which will be then conferred on all who have shown, in the various trials of life, that they had true faith.
Appearing is translate as in verse 13, "revelation." At Messiah’s revelation shall take place also the revelation of the sons of G-d (Rom. 8:19, "manifestation," Greek, "revelation"; 1 John 3:2, Greek, "manifested . . . manifested," for "appear . . . appear"). To Y’Shua is coming to judge the world. Comp. Matthew 25:31; Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Timothy 4:1, 8;
Titus 2:13.
From these two verses (verses 6-7) we may learn:
1. It is desirable to know whether that which appears to be faith is genuine, as it is desirable to know whether that which appears to be gold is genuine. To gold we apply the action of intense heat, that we may know whether it is what it appears to be; and as faith is of more value than gold, so it is more desirable that it should be subjected to the proper tests, that its nature may be ascertained. There is much which appears to be gold, which is of no value, as there is much which appears to be faith, which is no value. The one is worth no more than the other, unless it is genuine.
2. It is desirable in order to show its true value. It is of great importance to know what that which is claimed to be gold is worth for the purposes to which gold is usually applied; and so it is in regard to faith. Faith claims to be of more value to man than anything else. It asserts its power to do that for the intellect and the heart which nothing else can do; to impart consolation in the various trials of life which nothing else can impart; and to give a support which nothing else can on the bed of death. It is very desirable, therefore, that in these various situations it should show its power; that is, that its friends should be in these various conditions, in order that they may illustrate the true value of faith.
3. It is desirable that true faith should be separated from all alloys. There is often much alloy in gold, and it is desirable that it should be separated from it, in order that it may be pure. So it is in faith. It is often combined with much that is unholy and impure; much that dims its luster and mars its beauty; much that prevents its producing the effect which it would otherwise produce. Gold is, indeed, often better, for some purposes, for having some alloy mixed with it; but not so with faith. It is never better for having a little pride, or vanity, or selfishness, or meanness, or worldliness, or sensuality mingled with it; and that which will remove these things from our faith will be a favor to us.
G-d takes various methods of trying His people, with a design to test the value of their faithfulness, and to separate it from all impure mixtures.
He tried his people by popularity.
He tries his people in adversity.
He tries his people by sudden transition from one to the other.
He tries his people by prosperity.
In prosperity we may have shown that we were grateful, and benevolent, and disposed to serve G-d; but our faith will be subjected to a new test, if we are suddenly reduced to poverty. In sickness and poverty, we learn to be patient and resigned, and perhaps even happy.
Faith will bear any trial which may be applied to it, as gold will bear the action of fare.
Faith which will bear the tests that God applies to it in the present life, will bear the test of the final trial.