Unjust Suffering Series

INTRO.- ILL.- An 84 year old man went to the doctor for a physical. A few days later the doctor saw him walking down the street with a gorgeous young woman on his arm. The next time the doctor saw him he asked how he was doing.

"Great," said the old guy. "I did just what you told me. ’Get a hot momma and be cheerful.’"

"I didn’t say that," said the doctor. "I said, ’You’ve got a heart murmur. Be careful.’"

What is the good life? It all depends on who you are talking to. It could be someone with a beautiful date or mate. It could be someone with great looks or good health or someone with great wealth.

ILL.- I saw an article one time about Arnold Schwarzenegger, governor of CA. It was entitled, “Arnold’s Toys.” Arnold is not only worth around $800 million dollars, he also loves his toys and he has plenty. He smokes $4000 cigars, wears shoes that cost as much as $5000 a pair, wears $3000 Italian suits and has a $38 million Gulfstream Jet. Arnold and family cruise in style on a $4.5 million 88 foot yacht. He also has a great fondness for Hummers which run anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000. He has nine of them, estimated to be worth $1 million. The first one he purchased at a cost of $117,000. (Although I read recently that because of the environmental problems that California has he has given up all of his Hummers). No telling what he drives now.

Schwarzenegger does not accept his governor’s salary of $175,000 per year, and instead donates it to charities. That’s to his credit. However, if we all had the money that Arnold had we, too, might be willing to donate some to the church or to different charities.

Does it sound like Arnold has it made? Well, it certainly sounds like he has it made financially but none of us know what is happening behind the scenes. After all, he’s the governor of California. DO YOU THINK HE HAS A PLEASANT JOB? I wouldn’t want any politicians job! I wouldn’t trade jobs with any of them, including the President of the US. And especially, the President!

WHO DOES HAVE IT MADE IN LIFE, IF ANYBODY? Honestly, I’m not sure anybody has it made perfectly in this life. No matter how good a person has it in this life there will always be something to throw a wrench in the works: the economy, our health, family members, etc., etc.

ILL.- A man went to see his doctor because he was suffering from a miserable cold. His doctor prescribed some pills, but they didn’t help. On his next visit the doctor gave him a shot, but that didn’t do any good.

On his third visit the doctor told the man, "Go home and take a hot bath. As soon as you finish bathing throw open all the windows and stand in the draft."

"But doc," protested the patient, "if I do that, I’ll get pneumonia." "I know," said the doctor, "But I can cure pneumonia."

The sad truth everybody gets something or some illness they don’t like. And often, there is no way to figure out how you got it.

Unjust suffering. Doesn’t sound good, does it? Did that ever happen to you?

PROP.- In our text, Peter spells out the good and the bad of unjust suffering.

1- Unjust suffering is conferred on all

2- Unjust suffering is commended by God

3- Unjust suffering is Christ-likeness

I. UNJUST SUFFERING IS CONFERRED ON ALL

18Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God.

Suffering. It is conferred, given or bestowed on all people. It happens to everybody.

ILL.- A lady said: I was sitting in the waiting room of my new dentist. It was my first appointment. I noticed his diploma on the wall, which had his full name.

Suddenly, I recalled a tall, dark haired, handsome boy with the same name had been in my high school class nearly 50 years ago. Could this be the same boy I had a secret crush on, way back then?

When I saw him, however, I quickly discarded that thought. This gray haired, balding man with the deeply wrinkled face was way too old to have been my classmate. Hmmm! Or could he?

After he examined my teeth, I asked him if he had attended Northampton High School. "Yes, I did!" he said. "I’m a Konkrete Kid." He gleamed with pride.

"What year did you graduate?" I asked. "In 1959," he said. "Why do you ask?" "I was in your class!" I exclaimed.