TWO PERPLEXING QUESTIONS
TEXT: Job 1:6-22, 2:1-10 & Psalm 73:1-28
PROPOSITION: We need to trust the Lord in all of life’s circumstances.
INTRODUCTION:
This week I heard of a man from Jordan, a Christian who came to the United States, went through seminary, even got his doctor’s degree in theology. He and his wife then went back to Jordan, to their homeland.
As a result of the Gulf War and the aftermath of that war, for the first time Jordanian after Jordanian after Jordanian is coming to know Jesus Christ as their Savior. And that mission field that had been so barren is becoming a tremendous harvest. so much so that a month ago, this man and his wife came back to the States to recruit more people and money to help them with the job.
While they were here, his wife went to the doctor and found that her throat was filled with cancer. Now he’s in the States trying to see what they can do to keep his wife alive. Meanwhile. there s no one over there to work with Jordanians. He said. "God, that’s stupid. That s dumb. That doesn’t make sense."
You and I have often given our lives to Jesus Christ, and our time and our energy as well. We’ve given it to him. You said, "God, I want to do it." And then just when it seems as if everything should be coming together, instead it’s exploding apart. Relationships for which we’ve sacrificed are breaking up. And jobs to which we’ve been giving our lives are going out the window.
We may say to God “that doesn’t make sense”.
I also read this week of a Christian man who, about six months before retirement, was laid off, and the company finagled it so he lost all his benefits. He had prayed, "God. I want to be a good husband. I want to be a good father.
I’m going to go to church. I’m going to spend my life serving you," and six months before retirement, whatever security he had was taken away.
Now he says, "God, that’s not fair! I don’t know if Christianity is worth it!" Has that been you in your Christian life at one time or another.
Maybe you haven’t been bold enough to say it - but perhaps you have questioned by God has allowed terrible times to come into your life.
In the years of ministry in which I have served the Lord - Two perplexing questions surface among God’s people from time to time.
WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE?
WHY DO GOOD THINGS HAPPEN TO BAD PEOPLE?
When the planes flew into the World Trade Center in NY and the Pentagon in Washington, people wondered why these good people just doing their jobs on a Monday morning were suddenly killed? Why would God allow such things to happen?
When the buildings collapsed killing hundreds of police and fire personnel - we asked again Why did these bad things happen to these good people? THE ANSWER TO THESE QUESTIONS MAY NOT BE COMPLETELY REVEALED UNTIL WE ARE WITH THE LORD - but I am confident there was a reason God allowed the tragedies to occur.
But most of us look at the question more from OUR day to day life. Our real questions are probably better stated:
WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GODLY PEOPLE?
WHY DO GOOD THINGS HAPPEN TO UNGODLY PEOPLE?
Or in other words, “why God have you allowed this to happen to me? I serve you and am faithful to you, yet I have this occur in my life while the ungodly people I know seem to have no problems at all?”
The questions come to us because after all, we are serving the Lord - we have trusted Jesus as Savior and doing all we can for Him – WHY then do all of these bad things happen to us?
The unsaved live wicked lives - curse the name of our Lord - and yet they seem to prosper and live lives of blessing.
These are very troubling questions that seem to effect all of us from time to time when difficulties and trials come our way and when the unsaved seem to prosper above us.
During these last two years I have served here with you as your pastor, I have seen troubles and difficulties come to many of you. Bad things happening to Good and Godly people!
• Some of you have lost loved ones
• Some of you have had physical problems and surgeries (some seem to be a member of the operation of the month club at the hospital)
• Some of you have been injured
• Some of you have had family difficulties
• Some of you may have had financial problems
Time and again, those involved wonder if not verbally but in their minds - “why is this happening to me?” “I am trying to live for God and THIS happens to me?”
It’s a question that is legitimate - and I believe God gives some answers in His Word to both of these perplexing questions.
He may not reveal the SPECIFIC reason why WE may be suffering adversity until we go to be with Him in heaven, but we see in the Word of God some general answers to the perplexing questions on our hearts in the midst of adversity...
This morning we are going to look at what God’s Word says concerning the two perplexing questions -
WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GODLY PEOPLE?
WHY DO GOOD THINGS HAPPEN TO UNGODLY PEOPLE? TWO PERPLEXING QUESTIONSTEXT: Job 1:6-22, 2: 1-10 & Psalm 73:1-28
PROPOSITION: We need to trust the Lord in all of life’s circumstances.
I. WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GODLY PEOPLE?
A. Our Bewilderment
1. The things that happen to Godly People:
a. Health problems
(1) Things are going well - then all of a sudden a health problem comes
(a) Health problems ARE a part of the dying process due to our being sinners - we begin to die at birth.
i) The body is wearing out.
(b) Yet, sometimes we wonder WHY NOW?
b. Financial set backs
(1) Things going well at work - suddenly laid off
(2) Bills are being paid - then an unexpected expense hits
(a) Car repair
(b) Hospital bill
(c) Repair needed on the house.
c. Home problems
(1) Things seem to be going well with the marriage - suddenly your mate wants out of the marriage
d. Hurts from other people
(1) Someone you trust and love in the Lord - suddenly they turn on you and begin speaking lies about you to others - or they tell you off.
APPLICATION: There are many other things that can bring about bewilderment in our lives – bad things that come into the lives of even the Godly.
ILLUSTRATION: We are not alone in things happening in our lives. The believers of the early church had the same experiences.
• After a great victory over the priests of Baal, Elijah had to face a problem of Jezabel seeking his life. (He ran into the wilderness to sit in despair telling the angel of the Lord that he was the only one serving the Lord, everyone else had forsaken the cause)
• Paul was often run out of town, stoned and left for dead by angry listeners as he preached (Paul even experienced rejection by his own people)
• Peter reminded his readers that there were many undergoing suffering through no fault of their own but for the sake of the gospel.
2. Discouragement may set in
a. Discouragement - why keep on going?
(1) Periods of despair - crying - avoiding others
(a) Job 3:1-26
i) Did not even want to be born - wished he had died at birth (v3, 11)
ii) Wanted no joy in his life (v7)
b. Loss of faith - Where are you God? Don’t you care? Don’t you really exist?
c. Bewilderment
(1) Job 3:25-26
3. May not know where to turn for help
ILLUSTRATION: Job’s friends - tried to offer advise but were of no help to Job at all. They came to mourn with him and to comfort him (2:11)(good intentions) –
*Eliphaz - thinks Job committed sin and is being chastened of God.
*Bildad - thinks Job is a hypocrite and is being judged of God
*Zophar - thinks Job is a hypocrite and a liar (that Job hasn’t told them the whole story)
APPLICATION: But what are we to do when difficulties strike - if friends may not have the answers - where can we turn?? The answer: TO THE LORD HIMSELF.
He alone has the answer and it is NOT wrong to seek God in the matter?
(James 1:2) "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;"
(James 1:3) "Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience."
(James 1:4) "But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."
(James 1:5) "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."
Job talked with God about his situation - God answered after his friends didn’t come up with any substantial reasons.
(Job 38:1) "Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,"
- God then shows Job and his friends that the workings of God may not be fully known.
- Job then confesses that God is too great to know all of His workings and was sorrowful that he questioned God at all.
(Job 42:1) "Then Job answered the LORD, and said,"
(Job 42:2) "I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee."
(Job 42:3) "Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not."
(Job 42:4) "Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me."
(Job 42:5) "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee."
(Job 42:6) "Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes."
God may reveal the answers to your questions then, or perhaps later (even when we go to be with the Lord - we may not fully understand it all in this life) – What we are to do is trust the Lord - that He does know what He is doing in our situation. Job was told by the Lord that God was all powerful and was in control - He was to trust in the Lord – that same answer is ours today in the face of adversity.
Remember God is working behind the scenes in our life, bringing His will to come to pass - we cannot see or know all that God is doing (Satan and God talking about Job in heaven - God’s response to Job did not tell Job all the things going on between God and Satan).
But in all of our suffering and despair - God has a purpose. (He doesn’t allow His people to suffer without reason (He loves us too much - remember we are His beloved people)
B. God’s Purposes (in allowing adversity and difficulties)
1. Benefit of others
a. In the despair of Job, his difficulties were the result of God showing Satan that Job’s love of God was real - that Satan was a liar. (Job 1:8-12)
(1) It also shows to us God’s faithfulness to His people after going through trials.
(a) Job was restored more than he lost (Job 42:12-17).
i) Livestock
ii) Sons and Daughters
iii) Long and fruitful life
b. That your situation may be used of the Lord to bring others to Christ.
(1) Tragedy in NY, Washington, and Pennsylvania on Sept 11
(a) Brought our nation together
(b) Brought believers together
(c) Many have come to Christ as a result of tender hearts at this time.
(2) At funerals of loved ones - unsaved relatives hear the gospel (and some get saved)
(a) Sometimes God will call a believer home to be with Him in order for someone to come to know Christ.
2. For our own benefit - our own spiritual growth
a. Without difficulties, spiritual growth will not come.
(1) Our faith is strengthened when we see God at work on our behalf.
(1 Pet 5:10) "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you."
APPLICATION: Often times, the suffering God allows into our lives is a result of His desire to mold us and make us after the image of Christ. It is His way of getting rid of the dross of our lives and fashioning us after the Lord.
-- Leighton Ford once said: “God loves us the way we are, but he loves us too much to leave us that way”.
He wants to mature us - one of the ways he uses is through adversity.
-- Former Surgeon General, C. Everett Koop, wrote this in an issue of Leadership magazine: “We grow and mature spiritually through adversity--not when everything is going smoothly. ... in a time of adversity or trouble, the Christian has the opportunity to know God in a special and personal way”.
We must allow God to have His way with us in maturing us in Christ.
(Phil 1:6) "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:"
He started a work in you at salvation and wants to complete it until Jesus comes for you. He wants to mold you after His image - one of the ways He accomplishes that is thru adversity.
3. Suffering for the gospel’s sake - persecution
(2 Tim 3:12) "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."
(Acts 5:41) "And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name."
(Rom 8:17) "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."
a. We are not better than our Master
(John 15:18) "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you."
(John 15:19) "If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you."
(John 15:20) "Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also."
(1) Jesus suffered and so shall we.
b. Suffering for Jesus brings rewards
(Mat 5:10) "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
(Mat 5:11) "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake."
(Mat 5:12) "Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."
4. Possible chastisement (God MAY be trying to bring you to a closer walk with Him)
ILLUSTRATION: Someone has said: “Discipline ... is to strengthen and restore, not condemn or destroy”. When God spanks us it is for the purpose of drawing us back into fellowship with Him, not to destroy us.
But when we stray for God’s will due to sin or drifting from close fellowship, chastisement will come our way and we will suffer adversity.
a. Be sure your suffering is NOT due to some sin in your life
(1 Cor 11:27) "Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord."
(1 Cor 11:28) "But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup."
(1 Cor 11:29) "For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body."
(1 Cor 11:30) "For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep."
(1 Cor 11:31) "For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged."
(1 Cor 11:32) "But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world."
(1) God chastens His own children when they are out of God’s will.
5. Consequences of poor choices or sinful choices. (God allows us to suffer from our poor choices)
(1 Pet 4:14) "If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified."
(1 Pet 4:15) "But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters."
ILLUSTRATION: If someone decides to drive while drunk and has an accident resulting in serious injuries and loss of an arm - suffering has come from a sinful choice.
But even in those choices, God can and often does bring us closer to Him after we suffer the consequences of our actions.
C. The Results of suffering adversity
1. Maturing our faith
EXPLANATION: Our faith can mature even in the times of suffering from poor choices and chastisement...as God ministers to us in those times as well.
(James 1:2) "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;"
(James 1:3) "Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience."
(James 1:4) "But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."
APPLICATION: God allows these times of testings and difficulties to come into our lives to draw us closer to Him - to strengthen our faith when we see Him at work - and to draw us to trust Him more, realizing He is in charge of our lives.
ILLUSTRATION: When he was coaching, Tom Landry stated to one of the attendees at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes conference - "My task, is to renew the minds of our players so that I can get them to do what they do not want to do in order for them to achieve what they want to achieve."
We all want the character; we want to be more like Jesus, we just don’t want the suffering. And yet Romans 5 teaches us that as we go through the process of suffering, there is produced the product of character.
(Rom 5:3) "And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;"
The Lord allows suffering to come our way to produce the product of Christlikeness He desires for us.
D. Our Responsibility in the face of adversity and troubles
1. To us - trust the Lord fully
a. Rest in His wisdom, that He knows what He is doing in our lives.
b. Know the Lord has NOT forgotten you or forsaken you.
(Heb 13:5) "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."
c. Spend much time with the Lord
(1) Prayer
(2) Bible reading
APPLICATION: Let the Lord speak to you in the quiet moments with Him - let Him love you as you spend time with Him.
d. Realize God has allowed this for a purpose - allow Him to work His purpose in your life.
2. To others in difficulties
a. Pray for them
b. Encourage them
(1) Don’t preach to them like Job’s friends – let God show them their situation.
(2) Just love them and be there with them in their time of need.
(a) The best thing Job’s friends did for him was to sit with him for several days and say nothing.
(Job 2:11) "Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him."
(Job 2:12) "And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven."
(Job 2:13) "So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great."
II. WHY DO GOOD THINGS HAPPEN TO UNGODLY PEOPLE? (Psalm 73:1-28)
A. Our Bewilderment
1. We compare our suffering with their seeming blessing and wonder WHY? (Psalm 73:3-16) — We become envious of their blessings.
a. The ungodly prosper in this life
(1) Strength and long life (v4)
(2) Trouble doesn’t seem to come their way as to believers (v5)
(3) Riches (v7)
(4) Speak out against God and still prosper (v9-12)
2. We may even begin to question God. (“Why are the unsaved doing so well, and I am here in all of these problems - after all I am trying to serve you and do your will?”
a. We remind God of our goodness and wonder why do the ungodly prosper and we suffer (v13-14)
B. God’s Purposes (of the ungodly prospering)
1. In this life, the wicked and God’s people are blessed together.
(Mat 5:45) "That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."
a. The wheat and tares dwell together in this life - both are blessed.
(1) If God is going to bless His people, the ungodly will benefit also in THIS life.
2. Goodness of God leads to repentance
(Rom 2:1) "Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things."
(Rom 2:2) "But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things."
(Rom 2:3) "And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?"
(Rom 2:4) "Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?"
a. Paul is saying that we should not judge the ungodly when they are blessed of God - God is showing His goodness, trying to get them to trust Him.
C. The Results
1. Judgment if they don’t get saved (v17-19)
a. The wheat and tares will be separated one day.
(Mat 13:30) "Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn."
(Rev 21:6) "And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely."
(Rev 21:7) "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son."
(Rev 21:8) "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."
(1) Believers will be blessed of God in Heaven
(2) Ungodly will burned for eternity in the Lake of Fire.
D. Our Responsibility
1. Praise the Lord for our salvation - that we are not lost as the ungodly.
a. Express your love for the Lord.
(Psa 73:20) "As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image."
(Psa 73:21) "Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins."
(Psa 73:22) "So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee."
(Psa 73:23) "Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand."
(Psa 73:24) "Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory."
(Psa 73:25) "Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee."
2. Pray that the ungodly will get saved.
(Rom 10:1) "Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved."
a. Instead of shunning, begin praying for the lost
b. Instead of condemning them, pray for the lost.
APPLICATION: When was the last time we prayed for someone we know who was lost, that they would be saved? Let’s begin to regularly pray that the ungodly we know will come to trust Christ as Savior.
3. Encourage them to be saved
(Psa 73:26) "My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever."
(Psa 73:27) "For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee."
(Psa 73:28) "But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works."
a. Befriend them with a goal of witnessing to them
(1) Develop friends among the unsaved (we tend to just make friends with other believers).
b. Show forth a godly example to them even in the midst of difficulties in your life.
CONCLUSION:
God has many reasons why the Godly suffer - He may or may not reveal all of His reasons to us in this life.
You may be suffering greatly or will be in the future.
• When difficulties come, it is not wrong to ask of God why - BUT rest in the fact that God is in charge - He has not forgotten nor forsaken you – THERE IS A PURPOSE in what you are going through, but you may not know that purpose until we go to be with Him.
Allow God to work His work in your life - trials and difficulties increase our Faith and bring spiritual growth in our lives. Allow God to mold you and make you after the image of Christ through difficulties and trials of life.
Allow God to reveal Himself in the midst of our trials and difficulties - it is in those times we see God at work in our lives and the lives of others. — Glorify the Lord as we see Him at work.
• When the ungodly prosper - realize that unless they repent they will be cast into the Lake of Fire. They may prosper today, but in the end will be destruction.
We need to do all we can in reaching the ungodly with the gospel while there is still opportunity. Be a friend of sinners (as Jesus was) - be an example to sinners (as Jesus was) - be a witness to sinners (as Jesus was) TRUST THE LORD TO SAVE THEM...
We may not have all the answers why the Godly Suffer and the Ungodly seemed blessed in this life – but one thing is sure:
God is in charge and we need to trust Him for He alone is God - He alone knows what is best for us and what will lead the ungodly to Christ. He has promised never to leave us nor forsake us –
In adversity and problems that come your way: TAKE GOD AT HIS WORD - HE IS FULLY TRUSTWORTHY!
Let’s trust our Heavenly Father who does all things well...Even when we may not fully understand His workings in our lives and the lives of the ungodly.
Remember the words of David:
(Psa 37:7) "Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass."
(Psa 37:8) "Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil."
(Psa 37:9) "For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth."
(Psa 37:10) "For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be."
(Psa 37:11) "But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace."
