Presenting ...
... a weekly letter of encouragement.
23 April, 1997 - Singapore
Good Morning!
HOW ARE WE TO UNDERSTAND AND RESPOND TO SUFFERING?
For example:
- A friend's twelve year old boy dies of cancer.
- An unforeseen change in tax laws suddenly wipes out an established business.
Why do people suffer? Is it the result of sin? Circumstances?
Bad luck? Evil forces winning over good?
How much suffering is self-inflicted through our sloth, greed,
ignorance, or stupidity?
It seems that a considerable amount of the pain we suffer happens
at random. Few would disagree that life, taken at face
value, appears to be unfair. (Ecclesiastes 7:15; 8:14)
In my recent reflections on suffering from the Book of Job,
five observations emerged:
1. In the struggle between good and evil, God may allow the righteous to suffer without
their knowledge of the issues at stake. (Job, chapters
1,2)
2. Because our lives are expendable for the glory
of God, He is the One who determines their quality and duration.
(Job 1:9-20; 2:6-10; 42:10-15)
3. Our friends may well mis-judge the cause of our suffering
by failing to comprehend God's inexplicable purposes at work
behind the scenes. (Job 42:7,8)
4. How we respond to suffering reveals the quality of
our faith. (Job 1:21, 22; 13:15; 23:8-12)
5. This side of eternity, God may choose not to
explain the reasons for our suffering. He gave none
to Job. (Deuteronomy 29:29; Ecclesiastes 8:17)
HOW THEN ARE WE TO UNDERSTAND AND RESPOND TO SUFFERING?
Certainly Job's response to the destruction of his family and
fortune is worthy of our consideration. Upon learning of his losses,
Job
"...Fell to the ground in worship
and said: 'Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will
depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the
name of the LORD be praised.'
"IN ALL THIS, JOB
DID NOT SIN BY CHARGING GOD WITH WRONGDOING."
(Job 1:20-22)
THE QUESTION IS:
DO WE?
My prayer is that you are having a good week
Dwight Hill
- 1 Coleman Street #02-34
The Adelphi - Singapore 0617 .
- Phone: 337 6498; Fax: 336 9913
(c) Copyright 1996 Dwight Hill. Unlimited permission to copy or use is hereby granted subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.
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