Allah (swt) gives us two images in life. An image of a man who is given abundant provisions, so he thinks it is an honor and says “My Lord has honored me.”, and an image of a man with straitened means of life, so he thinks it is an evil and says: “My Lord has humiliated me!”.

Allah (swt) is correcting the concepts by saying that widening livelihood and increasing money are not signs of honor, on the other hand, withholding sustenance is not an indication of humiliation. Hence, Allah (swt) says after that: (But No!). Because by that misunderstand then you mix between two matters; the test and the result, as giving wealth and increasing provision is a trial as well as curtailing provisions and wealth is a trial. So, both of them are equal in balance, one cannot be preferred on another unless by the results.

Therefore, honouring and humiliating are related to your behaviour and your success in the test. So, pondering upon these two verses, we find that the two matters are trials.