Samuel Chadwick said, “Compassion costs. It is easy enough to argue, criticize and condemn; but redemption is costly, and comfort draws from the deep. Brains can argue, but it takes heart to comfort.”(1) How do we respond to those who are enduring hardship? Do we dish out criticism and judgment, or do we provide comfort from genuine concern and compassion? Chadwick stated that redemption is costly, meaning that we must crucify our condescending pride before we can ever offer the necessary comfort to resurrect a broken heart.
The Lord does not want to see His children hurting from the pain of adversity and loss; nor does He want to see believers casting insult upon injury by offering inconsiderate words during a person’s time of grief. Therefore, He comforts us during our own trials, hoping we will allow the consolation that we have received to provide us with insight, in order to better assist those who are hurting in a similar manner. We will learn today how we must allow our own trials to lead us in compassion toward others; and that we must utilize our newfound spiritual understanding to help redeem the spiritually wounded from their pain and confusion.
The God of All Comfort (vv. 3-5)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.
Paul spoke here about “the Father of mercies and God of all comfort” (v. 3). The word “comfort” is stated five times in these three verses; and in addition, we see a variation with the use of the term “consolation.” The Greek word that Paul used was parakleseos, meaning, “to call to one’s side,”(2) which implies walking alongside someone as a close companion. A. T. Robertson says that another form of this word found in the New Testament is paraklete, which is “the word used by Jesus of the Holy Spirit as the Comforter.”(3)
It brings us great assurance, as believers, to learn how the Lord is the God of all comfort. In Isaiah 49:13, the prophet declared, “Break out into singing . . . for the Lord has comforted His people, and will have mercy on His afflicted.” The Lord is further identified by Paul as the God “who comforts us in all our tribulation” (vv. 3-4), meaning that He comforts us during our trials and troubles.
In Isaiah, the Lord spoke peace to His people, proclaiming, “Comfort, yes, comfort My people, says your God” (Isaiah 40:1). Isaiah continued to declare, “The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength” (Isaiah 40:28b-29). The Lord neither sleeps nor slumbers, for He is always on guard, watching and waiting to deliver and comfort His people during trials and tribulation; and because of His unceasing consolation we have a reason to rejoice!
In verse five, we read how “the sufferings of Christ abound in us.” We often suffer for our faith in the Lord. This suffering occurs in our life as we are persecuted for our beliefs; and also, as we encounter adversity as God allows us to be tried and tested. In Revelation chapter three, the Lord stated, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten” (3:19); and in Hebrews chapter twelve, the reason for our chastening is explained, as we read, “Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (12:11).
We often wonder if there is a purpose for our suffering. Sometimes, as Hebrews stated, we undergo trials as training that will bear forth the fruit of righteousness; or rather serve the purpose of growing us in Christ-likeness. However, we read in verse four of another reason for the adversity we sometimes face, which is so that “we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
What we undergo can help those who are experiencing a similar situation; as the manner in which we are comforted is passed on to them. Elsewhere, Paul wrote to the believers in Corinth telling how he had received comfort from Titus who paid him a visit; as Titus had shared with him the same consolation that he had received from the Corinthian church. Paul stated, “God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was comforted in you” (2 Corinthians 7:6-7a).
In verse five, we continue to read, “For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ” (v. 5). Paul basically said, “The more we suffer, the more we are able to console others.”
Afflicted to Comfort Others (vv. 6-7)
6 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. 7 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.
The first thing we read in these two verses is this: “Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer” (v. 6). Paul was saying that God may allow us to face a certain trial, knowing that in the future there will be someone within our sphere of influence who will experience the exact same thing; and therefore, he or she will need our wisdom, our advice, and our comfort. Allow me to share an illustration:
Fifteen-year-old Douglas Maurer of Creve Coeur, Missouri had been feeling bad for several days. His temperature was ranging between 103 and 105 degrees, and he was suffering from severe flu-like symptoms. Finally, his mother took him to the hospital in St. Louis.
Douglas was diagnosed as having leukemia. The doctors told him in frank terms about his disease. They said that for the next three years, he would have to undergo chemotherapy. They didn’t sugar-coat the side effects. They told Douglas he would go bald and that his body would most likely bloat. Upon learning this, he went into a deep depression.
His aunt called a floral shop to send Douglas an arrangement of flowers. She told the clerk that it was for her teenage nephew who has leukemia. When the flowers arrived at the hospital, they were beautiful. Douglas read the card from his aunt. Then he saw a second card. It said, “Douglas - I took your order. I work at Brix florist. I had leukemia when I was seven-years-old. I’m twenty-two-years-old now. Good luck. My heart goes out to you. Sincerely, Laura Bradley.” His face lit up, and he immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
Douglas Maurer was in a hospital filled with millions of dollars of the most sophisticated medical equipment. He was being treated by doctors and nurses with expert medical training. But it was a sales clerk in a flower shop, a woman making one hundred seventy dollars a week, who by taking the time to care, and by being willing to go with what her heart told her, gave Douglas hope and the will to carry on.(4)
It does our soul a world of good to know that we are not alone in what we are facing. Hebrews 12:3 admonishes us, “Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.” If you are experiencing a time of trials and trouble, then consider what Jesus endured as He suffered, bled, and died for your salvation; and then you will be able to realize that you have it a whole lot better.
In verse six, Paul stated, “If we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation” (v. 6). When we share with others concerning how God has been faithful during our own adversity, then this comforting news will encourage them to face their set of difficult circumstances.
We must resolve that we will never share what we have endured with malice in our heart, or with a competitive spirit. God has called us to encourage people; therefore, we must refuse to turn our trials into a tally of battle scars. I have heard believers make comments such as, “Welcome to my world,” or, “Now you know what it’s like to be in my shoes,” and, “That’s nothing, because I went through such and such.” Sharing these kinds of comments with those who are facing difficulty is not beneficial, but rather emotionally hurtful and spiritually detrimental.
I remember when we lost our first child through miscarriage. My wife was deeply wounded; therefore, she reached out to some church members by sharing what had happened. She was seeking love and concern, and words of comfort and wisdom; however, she was quickly let down. The comments she received ranged from, “That’s nothing, for the baby was only two months along,” to, “It wasn’t even a baby yet, and you’ll soon get over it,” all the way to, “You need to buck up and move on.” Such verbal responses do not bring about encouragement; but rather, they make people feel bewildered or less spiritual than you are.
People are seeking words of understanding; not harsh and competitive remarks. Whenever someone shares with us about their struggles, let’s not turn the conversation around and make it about us. We must learn to demonstrate compassion, rather than comparing the severity of our trials. I must add, however, that even though sharing our story of God’s faithfulness is sometimes beneficial in encouraging others; there are moments when words are not what people really need. Allow me to share another illustration:
Once during Queen Victoria’s reign, she heard that the wife of a common laborer had lost her baby. Having experienced deep sorrow herself, she felt moved to express her sympathy. So she called on the bereaved woman one day and spent some time with her. After she left, the neighbors asked what the queen had said. “Nothing,” replied the grieving mother. “She simply put her hands on mine, and we silently wept together.”(5)
In verse seven, Paul said, “Our hope for you is steadfast.” Do we have sincere hope for our brothers and sisters in Christ, or do we secretly harbor thoughts that some of them should be made to struggle just as we have? There are actually some people who selfishly believe that if they had to endure suffering, then so should their friend or neighbor; especially those who appear to have it all together, where opportunity just seems to fall into their lap. Paul, however, stated we are to have “steadfast hope” for our fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord.
Of what should our hope consist? We should hope that others will be comforted, just as we have been. Paul said, “We know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation” (v. 7). Let’s not be selfish and hope that others will stumble and fall, so we can feel that we did a much better job under the same circumstances; but instead, let’s hope that others will endure and excel in the areas where we stumbled along. Paul stated in verse six that he suffered affliction for the very purpose of helping others in “enduring the same sufferings.”
Hebrews 12:1 says, “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” The race that we run is not an individual event, but a relay race; and we are all running on the same team, which is Team Jesus. Therefore, we must strive to help our fellow brothers and sisters to endure, and even excel in the face of hardship and trials; because whenever they overcome, then everyone wins as the Lord is glorified and the kingdom advances!
Time of Reflection
The greatest comfort anyone can receive is having the assurance of eternal life with the Lord. In 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11, Paul said, “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another.” Believers are supposed to comfort one another by reminding fellow Christians of the assurance of salvation that we have obtained in Christ; knowing that whether we live or die, we are always His children, and we have an eternal inheritance waiting for us in heaven.
Back in verse six, Paul stated, “If we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.” The Lord comforts believers with the primary goal that they will pass along consolation that will lead others to faith in His Son, Jesus Christ; for the assurance of eternal life is acquired only through “salvation.” When the Bible speaks of salvation, this word means to be rescued from the penalty for our sins. Romans 6:23 says, “The wages of sin is death,” meaning, spiritual death in hell for all eternity. However, we can be saved from death, because Romans 6:23 continues to declare, “But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
I want to ask you this morning, do you have eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord? Do you have the greatest comfort and assurance of all; which is the consolation that when you die, you will go to heaven to spend eternity with God?
NOTES
(1) “Comfort,” Christian Quotes: christianquotes.org/tag/cat/26 (Accessed September 21, 2011).
(2) A. T. Robertson, “Epistles of Paul,” Word Pictures in the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1931), pp. 208-209.
(3) Ibid., p. 209.
(4) Bob Greene, “From One Sufferer to Another,” Chicago Tribune (August, 1987).
(5) “Comfort,” Sermon Illustrations: www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/c/comfort.htm (Accessed September 21, 2011).
