Saturday, December 12, 2009
Suffering and God’s Will
(I Peter 4:15-19)
Suffering is not necessarily a mark of God’s chastisement or His displeasure. In fact, many times Christians suffer “according to the will of God” (19). A cursory glance a the Bible reveals that many of God’s most trusted and beloved servants suffered tremendously. Dr. Harold B. Sightler, long-time pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church in Greenville, SC, frequently stated that “those whom God uses much must suffer much.”
Sometimes, though, Christians suffer outside the will of God. In other words, they suffer the consequences of decisions made apart from God’s will. For example, a man may get drunk, crash his car, and be hospitalized. His suffering is not “according to the will of God;” rather, it is because of his sinful choices (15). Those who suffer the consequences of murder, theft, and wicked living are not suffering “according to the will of God.”
Did you notice in verse 15 that God classifies a “busybody” with a murderer, thief, and all-around evil doer? Much suffering comes from interjecting oneself into the affairs and issues of another. Often relationships are irreparably damaged by unnecessary conflict—usually brought about when one interferes where he should not. Some charge in where angels fear to tread, and that’s never wise. If your “sufferings” are the result of your “surfing” facebook, rest assured, you’re not suffering for Jesus!
Sometimes suffering is God’s will. Sometimes it is a result of sinful living. We are called to embrace the former and eschew the later—and to pray for sense enough to know the difference!
