Historical Posts
Better Suffering
Is it better suffering from doing good or better suffering from doing evil? Is there a difference?
Suffering is a part of normal everyday life. When we make mistakes, we must suffer the consequences. We expect that. When we do something good, we may suffer a trade-off or persecution from others. We should expect that as well. In fact, “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3:12).” But is it better suffering for doing good or for doing evil?
Is one form of suffering better than the other? Yes! Why one is suffering makes a difference. Peter wrote, “For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil (1 Peter 3:17).” God says that it is better suffering for doing good! He has always seen His people suffer. Those who suffered were eventually delivered; those who caused the suffering were punished when God took vengeance.
If we are suffering for doing the will of God, He will repay us for doing good and deliver us. On the other hand, if we are suffering for doing evil, God will repay us for that evil. Go back in your mind. Remember when kids would do well and behave in school, and then suffer bullying from other students? Their parents would commend them when they got home! On the other hand, when kids got in trouble at school, they would suffer getting in trouble with their parents when they got home. Which would you choose?
Keep in your mind that God is in control. He will render to every man according to his deeds when he is no longer on the earth (Romans 2:6). Let this thought help your bear up. It is better suffering for doing good and persevering.
Content by Richard Dillon
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Christ’s Sufferings and Our Consolation
We will hve both affliction and consolation during our walk with God.
Christ suffered for us. He endured persecution, and ultimately lay down His life on the cross for our sins. Because He was willing to do so, we can find consolation in Him. Knowing that the perfect sacrifice was made that can remove our sins. Our consolation is that we have the right to be reconciled to God.
Paul told the Corinthians, “For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation (2 Corinthians 1:5-7).”
As Christians, we partake in the sufferings of Christ! Paul told Timothy that all who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3:12). When we endure suffering, Christ shares in that with us. Thus Christ is consoled when we are able to endure it. He rejoices when one remains faithful to Him, and will reward him accordingly.
We will be both afflicted and comforted during our walk with God. Paul says that this is for our consolation and salvation! Knowing what Christ went through for us, and what we must go through for Him, should encourage us to continue to live faithfully. If we remain faithful until death, we will receive the crown of life (Revelation 2:10).
Content by Richard Dillon
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2 Timothy 01:08-12 – Sharing in Suffering – audio
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Text: 2 Timothy 1:8-12 (Reading by Richard Dillon)
Introduction
A. Many people are currently dealing with some form of suffering.
B. It is a great comfort to know that someone else is suffering just like you.
C. When you find what you have in common, it makes it easier for everyone to deal with that form of suffering.
Body
I. Jesus endured suffering.
A. He was accused of blasphemy (Matthew 9:3).
B. He suffered up until and during His crucifixion (Luke 24:46-48; 1 Peter 5:1).
C. He made salvation perfect through suffering (Hebrews 2:10).
II. Christians will suffer.
A. By preaching the gospel of Christ, suffering may be necessary (2 Timothy 1:8-12; Acts 9:16; Philippians 1:29; 1 Thessalonians 3:4; 2 Timothy 3:12).
B. We have fellowship in the sufferings of Christ (Philippians 3:10; 1 Peter 4:13).
C. We can rejoice in time of suffering (Colossians 1:24; Acts 5:41; Philippians 1:12-18).
III. We all share in suffering now, and will share in consolation and glory.
A. The true prophets set the example of suffering (James 5:10).
B. God is pleased when one suffers for His sake (1 Peter 2:19-20).
C. If one member of the body of Christ suffers, all suffer; if one is honored, all rejoice (1 Corinthians 12:26).
D. As sufferings abound in Christians, so do the consolation (2 Corinthians 1:5-7; 1 Peter 3:14,17; 4:16,19).
E. Glory follows suffering, and it will be much better (1 Peter 1:11; Romans 8:17-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:5; Hebrews 11:24-26).
Conclusion
A. Are you suffering for the cause of Christ? You are not alone!
B. Remember, what you are suffering from now is nothing compared to the glory of God that follows.
Content by Richard Dillon
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The Righteous Suffer Too!
If bad things only happened to bad people, suffering would not pose so great a dilemma for us. But, we all know that bad things happen to good people. Theologians and philosophers have wrestled with this issue for centuries. The example of Job from the Old Testament is a classic one. This man was among the finest men of his day, yet trouble filled his life. He lost his family, then his wealth, and finally his health. The only thing he didn’t lose was his faith. We can’t afford to forget his example. He showed us how to conduct ourselves in the face of suffering.
I am sure that some who are reading this today are carrying heavy loads. You may feel a close affinity with Job. And, you may be asking, “How can I go on? Why has God let this happen to me?” The questions are understandable. The answers are elusive. Let me make a few suggestions.
We should not expect good fortune to be with us all the time. Ours is not only a world of beautiful stars and lovely sunsets, of lush valleys and fertile plains, but also a world of tornadoes, earthquakes, hurricanes and forest fires. The good, the bad, and the ugly are all a part of life. It is unreasonable to expect our lives to be filled with only the good and the beautiful. The devil will not allow that to happen.
Life isn’t fair, and there is nothing that says that it is. Some people have more than their share of heartache while others seem to go through life almost unscathed. We don’t know why one airplane crashes and a thousand others fly trouble free. We can’t explain why a tornado levels one town while a hundred others are untouched, or why one person has multiple medical problems and another seems never to have a cold. Again, life isn’t fair.
I don’t have answers to all the questions. I wish I did. But, I do know this. God will not give us more than we can handle (1 Corinthians 10:13). Some of the most important lessons of life are learned in the face of adversity. Good things can come from bad experiences (Romans 8:28).
It is the adversity we encounter here that makes us long for heaven. If there were no burdens to bear, if there were no obstacles to hurdle, if there were no crosses to carry, I suspect heaven would not hold the attraction it does to the believer. God does have something better prepared for us.
It was with that thought in mind that Paul wrote: “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory… For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Corinthians 4:17; 5:1). It is that knowledge which gives us the courage and faith to continue on. The burdens of this life may be great, but the rewards of faithfulness are eternal.
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?
Suffering is not punishment from God for the sins of humanity
The ancients thought that, if something bad happened to someone, it must have been because that person had done something to bring God’s wrath down upon him. Generally, it was assumed that only a sinner would be made to suffer in this life. That was the view of Job’s friends, Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar, but Job could not think of anything he had done to prompt the Lord to inflict upon him the loss of his riches, his children and his health (Job 16:1,2). In Jesus’ day, people still held on to similar beliefs. On one occasion, the Lord addressed the issue, when some who were with Him told Him about some people from Galilee, who were killed by order of Pontius Pilate, while making a sacrifice at the Temple in Jerusalem (Luke 13:1). Jesus said, “Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:2-3). Then, Christ brought up another example: “Or those eighteen upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:4-5). With the word, “I tell you, Nay,” the Son of God forever dispelled the notion that human suffering is punishment from God for the sins of humanity. There are many reasons why bad things happen to good people, and we would do well to learn about them.
People Suffer Because of Their Own Sins
This suffering is not necessarily punishment from God for their sin, but it is simply the result of the consequences of a particular sinful activity. For example, when people commit the sin of fornication (Hebrews 13:4), they run the risk of contracting a deadly illness, or creating an unintended pregnancy. People who commit fornication may be forgiven by God for the sin they have committed, but they still have to deal with the consequences of their actions—maybe for the rest of their lives on Earth. King David provides us with an excellent example of this point. He committed fornication with Bathsheba and an unintended pregnancy resulted from their sin (2 Samuel 11:1-5). When David’s attempts to cover up what he had done failed, he arranged for Bathsheba’s husband to be killed on the field of battle, so he could then take her to be his wife (2 Samuel 11:6-27). The prophet Nathan reminded David he had not gotten away with anything and David begged the Lord for mercy (2 Samuel 12:1-13a). Even though the Lord forgave David for his sin, he still had to bear the consequences of his action (2 Sam. 12:10,13b-14). The result was that David’s sin with Bathsheba had a profound impact upon the rest of his life (Psalm 51:3b).
People Suffer Because of the Sins of Others
When a thief steals something precious from someone, or an abuser assaults someone, or a murderer takes away someone’s life, innocent people suffer. In such cases, the victim may have done absolutely nothing to provoke the incident, but he suffers just the same. The slain Galileans mentioned in Luke 13 are a good example of this principle. Jesus specified that they did not suffer because of their own sins (Luke 13:2-3). They were simply the victims of a ruthless Roman governor, who sought to impose his will upon the Jews. When something like this happens, in the modern world, it is always a terrible tragedy, but it is not necessarily a punishment from God. People Suffer and it is Not Anyone’s Fault People suffer terrible losses of life and property in natural disasters almost every day. Such losses occur through no fault of their own, or anyone else, but they still happen. The people who perished in the tower in Siloam are a good example of this principle (Luke 13:4-5). They died because gravity pulled the tower down upon them. Natural forces, like gravity, work to keep the world in which we live operating in the way that is most beneficial for us. Sometimes, those same forces can bring suffering into our lives, but most of the time they do not. This kind of suffering is not punishment from God, but merely the forces of nature doing what they were designed to do.
Our Lord wants what is best for us – He does not delight in human suffering
Some believe that God delights in human suffering, but nothing could be further from the truth (2 Peter 3:9). Our Lord wants what is best for us, and He urges us to resist temptation, so we will not have to suffer its consequences, or cause anyone else to suffer, either. When suffering does come into our lives (And it surely will), God enables us to cope with it, through the comforting wisdom that can only be found in the Bible (Psalm 119:50). Some argue that God does not exist, because of the suffering that goes on in the world. But if God removes suffering from our lives, but not the lives of others, then it could be argued that He is not being fair (Romans 2:11). If God removed suffering from all of us, then what would be the point of life on Earth? It has been said that suffering exists on Earth to make people want to go to Heaven—for in Heaven “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying…” (Revelation 21:4).
Content by Russell Kline
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Why Me, Lord?
We have all asked it.
- Why does it always have to rain on my parade?
- Why did this have to happen to me?
- Why my child?
- Why my marriage?
- Why my job?
Why? Why? Why?
The answer may be found in an obscure Old Testament passage where God is pictured as sitting over a refiner’s fire making silver of His people. Malachi wrote: “And he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness” (Malachi 3:3).
A woman read this verse in Bible class and was curious enough to seek out a silversmith to see what it meant. She found him sitting before a crucible, gazing intently into a boiling pot. She asked, “Do you have to sit here all the time or just come back when it’s finished?” He replied, “I have to keep my eye on the crucible. If it gets too hot, the silver is injured. I know the process of purifying is completed when I see my own image reflected in the silver.”
The answer to “why me?” is found in the silversmith’s shop.
The Refiner’s Pot
God values us far more than a prospector does his “mother load,” a miser does his coins, an addict does his fix, or a mother does her newborn (Psalm 116:15; Isaiah 43:4). He wants the best for us and demands the best of us. Just as the refiner’s job is to increase the value of his product by removing impurities, God sees His job as removing the impurities, sin, from us.
Lehman Strauss knew the heartache of suffering. In the midst of dealing with his wife’s stroke, he wrote a book entitled, In God’s Waiting Room: Learning through Suffering. As he attempted to better understand the events that moved into his life, he likened his experience to childhood memories of his mother making a cake. Dr. Strauss recalled the various ingredients—flour, baking powder, shortening, raw eggs—that went into a cake. By themselves they were not very enjoyable snacks, but when properly mixed together and baked for the correct length of time, they collectively produced a delicious dessert. In our lives we experience ingredients that seem unpalatable, and our temptation is to tell God He’s ruining everything. At those times we will find greater strength and peace when we acknowledge that God knows what He is doing.
What kind of furnace does our Refiner use? He uses the furnace of affliction, physical injury, disease, prolonged sickness (2 Corinthians 12:7–8), difficulty in rearing our children, problems with parents, financial reverses, or other overwhelming cares of life. Such suffering is an effective teacher in the great school of life. Some important lessons are only learned at her feet. Robert Browning Hamilton wrote:
I walked a mile with Pleasure, she chattered all the way;
But left me none the wiser, for all she had to say.
I walked a mile with Sorrow and ne’er a word said she;
But, oh, the things I learned from her, when Sorrow walked with me!
At the same time, God watches to see that the fire never gets so hot that it injures us. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: 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 Corinthians 10:13). These things may hurt us for a time, but they do not permanently injure us, unless we turn from the Refiner.
The Refiner’s Purpose
Amy Carmichael wrote, “A wise master never wastes his servant’s time.” No matter what set of circumstances we receive, God is not wasting our time. He is educating us; He is improving us; He is molding us. A young woman was suffering greatly and confided to an older Christian friend: “If God loves me as you say He does, why did He make me so?” The older woman replied, “He is making you now.” God’s purpose is to prepare us for heaven.
The Refiner wants to make heaven attractive to us.
(2 Corinthians 4:16–5:1; Philippians 1:21–23; Hebrews 11:10; Colossians 3:1–2)
One philosopher observed: “It is through our tears that we see the farthest into heaven.” Hard times can build good character (James 1:2–4; 1 Peter 1:7).
The Refiner wants to test our faith.
(Genesis 22:1; 1 Corinthians 3:12–15)
The worthiness of the ship is not determined while it rides at ease in the harbor, but when it rides the waves of a storm. Our faith is worthless if it cannot get us through life’s storms.
The Refiner wants to teach us to appreciate our blessings.
(Luke 17:17; Colossians 3:15)
Domesticated bullfinches are placed in a dark room for several weeks before they learn to sing. When brought into sunlight, the bullfinch’s song is sweeter and more beautiful than it would otherwise be. God often takes us into a dark room of suffering so that when we come back into life’s sunshine, our song of praise will be sweeter than ever before.
The Refiner wants us to learn to comfort others
(2 Corinthians 1:3–7)
It is difficult to really feel compassion for someone if we don’t know what he is going through. But when we have “walked a mile in his moccasins,” we can feel sorry for the one with blisters.
Suffering can help us help others. One remarked, “I asked for health that I might achieve, I was made weak that I might do better things.”
The divine Refiner wants us to learn to trust Him
(Luke 14:11; Proverbs 16:18; James 4:10; Jeremiah 10:23; 2 Corinthians 12:9)
Abraham Lincoln said, “I have often been driven to my knees by the sincere conviction that there was nowhere else to go.”
The Refiner’s Product
As the refiner told the Bible class student, silver is ready when he sees his image in its reflection.
God also looks to see His image in our lives. Paul wrote, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18; cf. Romans 8:29; Colossians 3:10).
A silversmith may make many pieces over the course of his days, but only a few of them are deemed worthy of display in his own house.
God is fashioning of us what He wants to display in His own house. Ralph Waldo Emerson was once approached by a concerned and inquiring person who said, “Mr. Emerson, they tell me that the world is coming to an end.” Emerson calmly replied, “Never mind, we can get along without it.”
When God finishes refining us, we all will be very happy “doing without” this world and its suffering.
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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1 Corinthians 04:01-18 Heaven Will Surely Be Worth It All
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Text: 1 Corinthians 4:1-18
Introduction
1. There is a song entitled “Heaven Will Surely Be worth It All”
a. Words written by W. Oliver Cooper
b. Melody arranged by Minzo C. Jones
2. As I sing this song, two main thoughts come to mind
a. The many sacrifices faithful Christians must often make
b. The glories of heaven and what is to come for those who remain faithful
3. The song proclaims that the rewards will surely be worth whatever the cost
a. As did Paul, in writing to the Romans – Romans 8:18
b. And again, in writing to the Corinthians – 2 Corinthians 4:17
Body
I. THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP
A. JESUS MUST COME FIRST
1. Before one’s own self – Luke 9:23-24
2. Before anyone else, including family – Luke 14:26; Matthew 10:34-37
3. Before anything the world has to offer – Luke 9:25; Luke 14:33
B. WE MUST BE WILLING TO SUFFER FOR CHRIST
1. We must be willing to bear our own cross – Luke 14:27
2. Living in an ungodly world, we may find that following Christ sometimes involves ridicule and persecution – 2 Timothy 3:12
a. The persecution may be physical – 1 Peter 4:12-13
b. The persecution may be verbal – Luke 6:27-28
3. Other things we must endure for Christ’s sake:
a. Personal weaknesses in our struggle against sin – 1 Corinthians 9:27
b. Disappointments brought on by failing brethren – 2 Corinthians 11:29
1) E.g., whose apathy and neglect produce slothful service
2) E.g., whose irregular attendance makes it difficult to depend on them
3) E.g., whose unwillingness to serve creates extra burdens on those who do serve
4) E.g., whose murmuring hinders the efforts of those who try to do something
4. Even if blessed to escape such things, we must still be willing to expend time and effort in promoting the cause of Christ in positive ways
a. Sometimes alone
b. Or with few to help
C. Yes, discipleship can be costly. As the song suggests, we are often “hindered”, “burdened”, with “trials, toils and tears” and “many a heartache”. But the Lord tells us through His Word that “Heaven Will Surely Be Worth It All”
II. THE REWARDS OF DISCIPLESHIP
A. PAUL LOOKED FORWARD TO:
1. A man who endured much hardship – cf. 2 Corinthians 11:23-28
2. Yet looked forward to:
a. A house not made with hands – 2 Corinthians 5:1
b. The riches of God’s grace – Ephesians 2:7
c. A glorious transformation – Philippians 3:20-21
d. A crown of righteousness – 2 Timothy 4:8
e. A heavenly kingdom – 2 Timothy 4:18
B. PETER LOOKED FORWARD TO:
1. A man who likewise suffered hardship – cf. 1 Corinthians 4:9-13
2. Yet looked forward to:
a. An inheritance imperishable, undefiled, reserved in heaven – 1 Peter 1:4
b. A new heavens and new earth, in which righteousness dwells – 2 Peter 3:13-14
C. JOHN LOOKED FORWARD TO:
1. A man who suffered tribulation and exile – cf. Revelation 1:9
2. Yet was blessed to be shown:
a. The bliss of those who were triumphant over tribulation – Revelation 7:9-10, 13-17
b. The destiny of the redeemed, forever with God – Revelation 21:1-7, 10-11; 21:22-22:5
Conclusion
1. Can there be any comparison…?
a. Between a few years of service, even with hardship?
b. And an eternity of bliss in the presence of God?
c. “Heaven Will Surely Be Worth It All”!
2. We have read the words of those like Paul, Peter, and John…
a. What if they could return and speak to us today?
b. What if our loved ones who died in Christ could return and speak to us today?
c. Would they not tell us, “Heaven Will Surely Be Worth It All”?
3. Whatever the cost of following Jesus in this life, may the words of this song and the promises of Holy Scripture remind and comfort us to be faithful and persevere
“Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:” (Hebrews 10:35-36)
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Suffering – 2 Timothy 3:12 – audio
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Text: 2 Timothy 3:12
Introduction
- How many remember when you were baptized into Christ, when all of your sins were washed away?
- Was it not a time of rejoicing and happiness?
- Just as it was when Philip baptized the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:38-39.
- It was said of him “… and he went on his way rejoicing.” – Acts 8:39
- And truly the time of one’s conversion is great occasion because “… old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17
- And then one day you come to Bible study excited, until you learn about what is written on the board:
- “SUFFERING”
All Christians Will Experience and Endure Suffering
- The express will of God says, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” – 2 Timothy 3:12
- Suffering for Christ, is like taking all the necessary classes, doing all the readings, reports, and tests to get your degree.
- When we are partakers in Jesus sufferings, we’re also partaker in His blessings – 1 Peter 4:1-2; 1 Peter 4:12-16
- Our sufferings in the Lord will be an everlasting blessing, if we endure to the end – James 5:10-11
- There is a great reward in heaven for those who will suffer for the name of Christ – Matthew 5:10-12
Conclusion
- Consider what the Apostle Paul says in Romans 8:18, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
- Therefore, let all of us be encouraged and not be afraid to suffer for Jesus that you might have life.
Hear Believe Repent Confess Baptism Live Faithfully to Death
(Invitation – Gahanna-Jefferson Church of Christ 8-22-2012 by bro. Harry D. Anderson, Jr.)
Content by Harry (Andy) Anderson Jr.Return to the Home Page