|
THE PROBLEM OF SUFFERING
Why Does God Allow It?
INTRODUCTION
1. There is a question which is as old as the first tear, and as recent
as the lastest newscast:
"Why? Why does God allow suffering, sorrow, heartache, and
death, even among His own children?"
2. This question was asked by Job, and has been asked by every person
who has walked upon the face of the earth and who believes in God
3. It was asked by a Christian whose wife...
a. Received in a car wreck a broken arm, ribs, back, pelvis, leg,
and over 200 fractures in her skull
b. Required over a month in ICU, and more than a year for complete
recovery!
4. The answer he received from the Word of God were such an
encouragement to me that I would like to share them with you...
[Our purpose in this lesson is not to determine the ORIGIN or CAUSE of
suffering (that we will do later), but to better understand:
* Why God allows it
* Why Christians can even rejoice in the midst of trials!
The first reason suggested by this Christian was...]
I. SUFFERING KEEPS THIS WORLD FROM BECOMING TOO
ATTRACTIVE
A. THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT WE ARE "PILGRIMS"
AND "SOJOURNERS"
1. This world is not truly our home
2. God has prepared something better for us
3. Consider the following passages: 1 Pe
2:11; He 13:14; 2 Co 5:1,5
B. IF THERE WAS NO SUFFERING
1. No one would want to leave this temporary
world
2. No one would desire the "eternal" home, and
therefore prepare themselves for it
C. BUT THE AFFAIRS OF THIS LIFE ARE SO
ORDERED
1. That the world soon loses its attraction
2. Most young people may want to live forever...
a. But by the time a man
reaches his "three score and ten"
b. He begins to desire
something better
II. SUFFERING CAN BRING OUT OUR BEST
A. THE MAN WHOSE WIFE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED
SAW THIS
1. In the constant support by friends
2. In the preparation of food
3. In the financial support
B. WE SEE THIS OCCURING QUITE FREQUENTLY
1. In times of natural disaster
2. When someone loses a house to fire, tornado,
etc.
3. In times of terminal illness
C. THIS MAY BE ONE REASON WHY EARLY
CHRISTIANS REJOICED IN THEIR TRIALS
1. They understood that tribulations could
develop character
2. As Paul wrote in Ro 5:3-4
III. SUFFERING GIVES AN OCCASION TO SILENCE THE
ENEMIES OF GOD
A. REMEMBER THE STORY OF JOB?
1. Satan wanted to prove God wrong about Job,
that he served God
only because God had blessed
him
2. But Job's patience under suffering silenced
Satan!
B. LIKEWISE, GOD DESIRES THAT WE SILENCE
"FOOLISH MEN" - 1 Pe 2:15
1. Who ridicule the teachings of Christ as
foolishness
2. Who say we are Christians only for what good
we can get out of it
C. BY PATIENTLY ENDURING, OR DOING GOOD IN
TIMES OF SUFFERING
1. The value of being Christians really shines
through
2. In the faith we have that sustains us in
suffering, and in the love we show towards those who suffer
IV. SUFFERING MAKES US APPRECIATIVE
A. WE ALL RECEIVE SO MANY GOOD THINGS IN THIS
LIFE
1. It is easy for us to become prone to take them
for granted
2. Instead of receiving them with gratitude
toward God
B. SUFFERING CAN HELP US APPRECIATE MORE
FULLY
1. Good health
2. Good friends, and a loving family
3. A good example of how suffering can make one
appreciative is the apostle Paul when he was in prison -Philippians
1:3-8
V. SUFFERING MAKES US MORE DEPENDENT UPON GOD
A. TOO OFTEN, WE THINK OURSELVES
SELF-SUFFICIENT
1. "But when a dozen of the most skilled men in
their profession tell you they have done all they can and it is
completely out of their hands..."
2. "...you suddenly realize how much you depend
on God."
B. AT NO OTHER TIME
1. Is one more likely to realize that we depend
upon God for our very breath!
2. As Paul proclaimed: "in Him we live and
move and have our being" - Ac 17:28
VI. SUFFERING HELPS PURIFY US
A. CONSIDER THE IMPORT OF TWO PASSAGES
1. 1 Pe 1:6-7 - Suffering can be like fire
purifying gold
2. Ja 1:2-5 - Maturity can be developed through
trials
B. TO ILLUSTRATE HOW, CONSIDER THE MAN WHOSE
WIFE WAS INJURED
1. "Many times I searched my own life during
these past six weeks in order to confess my every failure and
shortcoming to God..."
2. "I surely did not want my own sins to stand in
the way of God hearing my prayers for Jane..."
3. "It was absolutely necessary to be truthful
with God and myself, and I am a better man today than before."
VII. SUFFERING MAKES US SYMPATHETIC
A. PAUL WROTE OF THIS VALUE OF AFFLICTION
1. To the church at Corinth, in his second
epistle - 2 Co 1:3-4
2. It helps us to be better able to comfort
others in their affliction
B. WE MAY THINK WE CAN SYMPATHIZE
WITH SOMEONE
1. But until we have been there personally, there
is no true understanding of their hurt
2. Experiencing suffering...
a. Makes us more likely to
"weep with those who weep" - Romans 12:15
b. Better enables us to serve
others
VIII. SUFFERING TEACHES US HOW TO PRAY
A. WE ALL MAY BE A PRAYING PEOPLE
1. We pray at the right times
2. We pray for the right things
B. BUT IN THE MIDST OF SUFFERING WE LEARN HOW
TO PRAY
1. "Earnestly"
2. "Perseveringly"
3. "With groanings which cannot be uttered" (Ro
8:26)
C. AS OUR FRIEND SAID:
1. "I have been a praying man since I became a
Christian. But never like this."
2. "I have learned more about prayer in the past
six weeks than in the previous twenty years. My prayers will be
different for the rest of my life."
CONCLUSION
1. Can we begin to see why a RIGHTEOUS and MERCIFUL God would allow
suffering, even to the innocent?
2. If we look at suffering purely from MAN'S point of view, we will not
understand why suffering is permitted
3. But remember what God said through the prophet Isaiah:
"For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts, neither [are] your ways my
ways, saith the LORD. 9 For [as] the heavens are higher than the
earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your
thoughts." (Isaiah 55)
4. When we look at suffering from GOD'S point of view, from the
viewpoint of His plans for us in preparation of eternity, then we can
begin to appreciate why He would allow suffering to occur...
5. And never forget those words of Paul, which reminds us of God's never
failing love:
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall] tribulation, or
distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long;
we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things
we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am
persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities,
nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height,
nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the
love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8)
May God be praised!
Who Or What Causes It?
INTRODUCTION
1. In the previous lesson, we saw through the eyes of one suffering
Christian that SUFFERING can often bring about very positive results:
a. It keeps the world from becoming too attractive
b. It can bring out our best
c. It gives an occasion to silence the enemies of God
d. It makes us appreciative for things often taken for granted
e. It makes us depend on God
f. It can purify us
g. It makes us sympathetic
h. It teaches us how to pray -- In light of these, perhaps we can
begin to understand why God would allow suffering to exist
2. In this lesson, we shall cover an even more difficult question:
"Who or what is responsible for the suffering which God allows to
exist?"
a. Is it the work of God Himself?
b. Is it Satan?
c. Or is it simply natural consequences in a world of cause and
effect?
3. In dealing with this, I do not propose to have all the answers; but I
share with you those thoughts which I believe are in harmony with the
Word of God...
I. SUFFERING MAY BE "THE RESULT OF OUR OWN
ACTIONS"
A. GOD HAS CREATED A WORLD GOVERNED BY
NATURAL LAWS...
1. Laws of cause and effect
2. Laws of action and reaction
3. Laws of sowing and reaping
B. IF WE VIOLATE THESE LAWS, THE CONSEQUENCES
ARE OFTEN GRAVE...
1. Like stepping off a ten story building
2. Or running out in front of a truck
3. Or feeding one's body constantly with "junk"
food
4. Or exposing oneself to contagious diseases,
dangerous chemicals, pollution, etc.
C. IN SUCH CASES, SUFFERING IS EXPERIENCED...
1. Because, whether knowingly or unknowingly,
some natural law has been violated
2. It is not because we are evil or because we
are good (i.e., there is no moral significance to this suffering)
D. WHAT REALLY HURTS, HOWEVER...
1. Is when we suffer because SOMEONE ELSE
violates a natural law
2. E.g., a car wreck caused by someone else's
carelessness
2. E.g., child abuse by an alcoholic parent
[This explains much of the suffering endured in our lives. Some
would say that ALL suffering is the result of violating natural laws,
and that God or Satan have absolutely no hand in suffering whatsoever.
I believe the Bible teaches otherwise...]
II. SUFFERING MAY BE "THE WORK OF SATAN"
A. THE BIBLE PRESENTS SATAN AS A CAUSE OF
SUFFERING...
1. As in the case of Job - Job 1:6-12; 2:1-6
2. As in the case of persecuted Christians - 1 Pe
5:8-9
3. Satan's objective: that we might curse
God (as some do when they experience suffering)
B. BUT WHY DOES GOD ALLOW SATAN TO TEST US
SO?
1. Because God is able to use such suffering to
make us better!
a. E.g., Paul & his "thorn in
the flesh" - 2 Co 12:7-10
b. Remember Ja 1:2-4, that the
trying of our faith can produce good results
2. Also, consider God will do for those who
endure Satan's "shenanigans": "But the God of all grace, who hath
called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have
suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen,
settle [you]." (1 Pe 5:10)
C. WE CAN ALSO TAKE CONSOLATION IN KNOWING
THAT SATAN HAS HIS LIMITS...
1. As in the case of Job, God will let Satan go
only so far
2. As promised in Paul's letter to the
Corinthians: "...but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to
be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also
make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it]." (1 Co 10:13)
[So Satan is often permitted to bring suffering upon the righteous.
His purpose: to devour us, to get us to curse God. But by
the grace of God we are able to use that suffering to perfect,
establish, strengthen and settle ourselves as the children of God!
Is there ever a time when God Himself may bring suffering upon His
children? I believe the Bible teaches there is...]
III. SUFFERING MAY BE "THE CHASTISEMENT OF GOD"
A. THAT GOD CHASTENS HIS CHILDREN IS TAUGHT
IN BOTH TESTAMENTS...
1. In the Old Testament:
a. "Thou shalt also consider in
thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, [so] the LORD thy God
chasteneth thee." (Deu 8:5)
b. "My son, despise not the
chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For
whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son [in whom]
he delighteth." (Pro 3:11-12)
2. In the New Testament:
a. "As many as I love, I rebuke
and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent." (Re 3:19)
b. "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: For whom the Lord
loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son
is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without
chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not
sons." (He 12:5-8)
B. WHAT WOULD BE GOD'S PURPOSE IN CHASTISING
HIS CHILDREN?
1. Certainly not because He delights in doing so
- cf. Lam 3:31-33
2. But because it may be necessary...
a. To correct - He 12:9
b. That we may be partakers of
His Holiness - He 12:10
c. That we may yield the
peaceable fruit of righteousness - He 12:11
3. Only so we will not be condemned with the
world - 1 Co 11:32
C. WHEN WOULD GOD CHASTEN US?
1. Only when we do not correct ourselves! - 1 Co
11:31
2. Only when we are in danger of being condemned
with the world! - 1 Co 11:32
D. HOW DOES GOD CHASTEN HIS CHILDREN?
1. Consider how God tried to correct the erring
nation of Israel - cf. Amos 4:6-12
a. These were not miraculous or
supernatural events
b. But acts of nature brought
on by the providential working of God!
2. If God would use His Providence in an attempt
to get the nation of Israel to repent before it was too late...
a. Would not the same loving
God use His providential workings to chastise His erring children today?
b. Does He love us any less? -
cf. 1 Co 11:30-32; Re 2:20-23
3. I know of no scriptural reason why God could
not or would not use His Providence to bring about events in our lives
which can
hopefully serve to:
a. Wake us up
b. Cause us to reflect on our
lives and our relationship to God
c. Encourage us to repent and
turn back to Him if we are straying
CONCLUSION
1. The gist of what I am saying is this: When we experience
suffering in our lives...
a. IT MAY BE WE HAVE VIOLATED SOME LAW OF
NATURE
1) In this case, there is no moral significance
involved
2) It is not because one is good or bad
b. IT MAY BE THE WORK OF SATAN
1) In this case, it is because we are righteous
in God's sight
2) And Satan is trying to devour us, to get us to
rebel against God
c. IT MAY BE THE CHASTISEMENT OF GOD
1) If so, it is ONLY because...
a) He loves us
b) He sees that we are heading
in a direction which if left unchecked would result in the damnation of
our souls!
2) God won't stop us from sinning, but through
His providential workings in the affairs of this world He might try to
get us to reflect upon what we are doing!
2. CAN WE DETERMINE when any particular suffering
is from God, Satan or neither?
a. I don't believe we can
b. Unless, of course, one's sin is so blatant...
3. HOW THEN SHALL WE REACT TO SUFFERING?
a. IF in every case of suffering we approach it from the viewpoint
that it MIGHT be God in love chastening us...
b. And IF we use the occasion of suffering to:
1) Examine our lives and our relationship with
God
2) Draw closer to God...
c. THEN...
1) If it is from God, it FULFILLS His purpose!
2) If it is from Satan, it FRUSTRATES his
purpose!
3) If it is neither, it still brings us closer to
God!
Our final study will consider how we can best prepare for suffering...
How Can
We Prepare For It?
INTRODUCTION
1. In our study of the problem of suffering thus far...
a. We have looked at why God allows it to exist
b. Also, we have examined some of the possible causes of suffering
2. Even so, I still admit there is much we may not understand
a. But perhaps we are closer to being able to use suffering in our
lives for good...
b. To use suffering to the glory of God, and for the betterment of
ourselves!
3. In this final lesson, I wish to suggest some ways we can prepare
ourselves for suffering that might come our way
[There are several things that we can develop in our lives which will
help us to deal with the problem of suffering. The first is...]
I. DEVELOP TRUST IN GOD THROUGH AN ACTIVE
"BIBLE LIFE"
A. SCRIPTURES ABOUND WITH PROMISES THAT GOD
IS WITH HIS CHILDREN IN
THEIR TROUBLES...
1. In the Old Testament, cf. Ps 46:1-3; 55:22
2. In the New Testament, cf. Ro 8:35-39; 1 Pe
5:6-7
B. TO RECEIVE THIS WONDERFUL HELP OF GOD IN
TIMES OF TROUBLE...
1. We must TRUST in Him!
2. As the prophet Nahum implied in Nah 1:7
3. As promised in the song written by Isaiah in
Isa 26:3-4
C. HOW DO WE DEVELOP SUCH TRUST?
1. Faith (a synonym for trust) comes through the
Word of God! -Romans 10:17
2. Those who read and meditate upon the Word
develop that sort of TRUST which sustains them in all things - cf. Ps
119:165
3. This is just another reason why we need to be
diligent in our daily reading of the Bible!
4. Then we can be like that "blessed" man
described in the first three verses of the Psalms - Psa 1:1-3
[At the same time, we need to...]
II. DEVELOP COMMUNION WITH GOD THROUGH AN
ACTIVE "PRAYER LIFE"
A. THE BIBLE TEACHES US TO PRAY IN TIMES OF
SUFFERING - Ja 5:13
1. Jesus certainly did during His greatest trials
a. In the garden of Gethsemane
- Mt 26:36-44
b. While on the cross at
Calvary - Lk 23:34,46
2. We find the early church fervent in prayer
when their leaders were being persecuted - Ac 12:1-5,12
B. THIS IS BECAUSE IN PRAYER...
1. We receive the inner peace necessary to
sustain us in our trials - Ph 4:6-7
2. But the TIME to develop our "prayer life" is
NOW!
a. BEFORE suffering comes - cf.
Jer 12:5
1) If our
strength is small when dealing with the MINOR frustrations of life
2) ...then
how will we be able to be strong when faced with MAJOR difficulties that
suffering often brings?
b. So God will already be a
FRIEND with Whom we are close, and not a stranger!
[We also need to...]
III. DEVELOP CHRISTIAN FRIENDSHIPS THROUGH AN
ACTIVE "CHURCH LIFE"
A. THE "PREACHER" IN ECCLESIASTES WROTE OF
THE VALUE OF HAVING
FRIENDS - Ecc 4:9-12
1. They can help each other in their troubles
2. But "woe" to those who must face suffering
alone!
B. GOD INTENDED FOR THE CHURCH TO PROVIDE
THIS KIND OF MUTUAL
ENCOURAGEMENT...
1. As members together in the body of Christ, we
are to have the same care for one another - 1 Co 12:24-27
2. Those who are strong are exhorted to help
those who are weak - 1 Th 5:14
C. THE BEST WAY TO DEVELOP SUCH
HELPFUL RELATIONSHIPS...
1. TAKE AN ACTIVE PART in the "family life" of
the local church
a. Become involved
b. Make your presence felt
1) By
frequent and consistent assembling with the church
2) By
voluntary participation in the work of the church
c. Visit the sick, help the
needy, encourage the weak, assimilate the new members
1) Helping
others in their time of suffering can "soften" the shock of suffering in
your own life
2) E.g.,
visiting the sick in hospitals, or the bereaved at funerals will make it
easier for you when it comes your
turn
d. So become more than just a
"pew-warmer"!
2. Those who such things WILL NEVER LACK SUPPORT
in THEIR time of trouble!
a. I.e., if you are not
diligent to visit others in their time of need...
b. ...don't be surprised if
others are not quick to come to YOUR side when the need is there (not
that they shouldn't, but it be can difficult to effectively assist those
who chosen to remain aloof in their relationship with others)
CONCLUSION
1. By developing...
a. Trust in God through an active "Bible life"
b. Communion with God through an active "prayer life"
c. And Christian friendships through an active "church life"
...we can go a long way in preparing ourselves to deal with
adversity
2. Burdens can either shatter or strengthen our faith...
a. Which it will be for us depends upon how well we have prepared
ourselves
b. Jesus taught us that the key to overcoming the "storms" of life
lies in laying the proper foundation, one created by both HEARING and
DOING His Word - Mt 7:24-27
Are we preparing ourselves for the days of suffering that most of us
will likely face...?
To every [thing there is] a
season,
and a time to
every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born,
and a time to die;
A time to plant,
and a time to pluck up [that which is] planted;
A time to kill,
and a time to heal;
A time to break down,
and a time to build up;
A time to weep,
and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones,
and a time to gather stones together;
A time to embrace,
and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get,
and a time to lose;
A time to keep,
and a time to cast away;
A time to rend,
and a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
and a time to speak;
A time to love,
and a time to hate;
A time of war,
and a time of peace.
(Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)
Though this may be true, let's remember the encouraging words of the
writer to the Hebrews:
"Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the
heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast [our] profession. For we
have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our
infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without
sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may
obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." --Hebrews
4:14-16
May we all find that wonderful "MERCY" and "GRACE" in our times of need!
|