Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People?

Edward L Palmer

Spiritual Warfare • Sermon • Submitted 7 years ago

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2708 Right Attitude First Recommended A leading citizen of Huntsville, Ala., came to me and said: “I want to be a Christian, I want to love God and do right but I can’t believe in the divinity of Christ to save my life.” I said: “Don’t come to me with a talk like that; do just as Christ told you to do, and if you don’t make the landing I’ll swim out to you and drown with you.” “Well,” said the man, “what would you have me to do?” I replied: “Come to the meeting tonight, and when I call for sinners, you be the first to come forward. When the doors of the church are opened, you join.” The gentleman replied: “What, join the church when I can’t believe!” “Now,” I said, “I told you to keep your mouth shut; I am prescribing for you and you take the remedy, and I’ll warrant the cure.” That night he walked up and joined the church. I said to him: “Go home now and have family prayer, and come back to the service tomorrow, and I’ll ask you to pray in public: I’ll get you straightened out if you will just keep your mouth shut.” That night he had family prayer, and started right; then I called him to pray in public, and he offered a very earnest prayer. He has started right, and a few months afterwards when I went back to Huntsville for a service, I said: “How is Brother Blank getting on?” The pastor replied: “He is one of the best members we have.” “How is he on the divinity of Christ?” “Oh, he has quit doubting long ago.” I have always believed that if a man would put himself in the right attitude for salvation that God would lead him into the light. —James R. Stuart

However, it seems reasonable to suggest that God's primary audience for Job is everyone--all the people of every nation and generation:

⇒ To give an example and warning to us

"Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come" ().

⇒ To teach us how to live when facing the heartaches and agonizing pain of trials and affliction.

"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope" ().

The great book of Job explores the mystery of suffering.

⇒ To give an example and warning to us

"Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come" ().

⇒ To teach us how to live when facing the heartaches and agonizing pain of trials and affliction.

"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope" ().

Purpose :

1. The Historical Purpose: The great book of Job explores the mystery of suffering. It attempts to answer such questions as:

Why do bad things happen to good people (1:1-2:10)?

Purpose :

Why does God allow people to suffer, especially those who truly believe in and obey Him with all their hearts (1:1-42:17)?

What should a person's attitude or outlook be toward suffering?

How should a person respond to suffering? Will a person curse and renounce God? Or question God's justice and fairness because He allowed the suffering? Or will a person trust God, believing with all his or her heart that God will work all things out for good?

How can a true believer who is suffering agonizing loss and affliction be victorious throughout the ordeal?

How can the believer maintain a strong relationship with the Lord--really trust the Lord--when he or she cannot understand the purpose for the suffering?

What must the afflicted believer do to become a strong witness to others? Purpose :

Purpose :

1. The Historical Purpose: The great book of Job explores the mystery of suffering. It attempts to answer such questions as:

It attempts to answer such questions as:

Why do bad things happen to good people (1:1-2:10)?

Why does God allow people to suffer, especially those who truly believe in and obey Him with all their hearts (1:1-42:17)?

What should a person's attitude or outlook be toward suffering?

How can a true believer who is suffering agonizing loss and affliction be victorious throughout the ordeal?

How can the believer maintain a strong relationship with the Lord--really trust the Lord--when he or she cannot understand the purpose for the suffering?

What must the afflicted believer do to become a strong witness to others?

(1:1-2:13) Introduction: Have you ever been coasting along comfortably in life with everything going fairly well, then, without warning, things began to crumble? For months, perhaps years, you had been relatively peaceful, stable, and happy. You were experiencing no major trouble or hardship. When the normal difficulties of everyday life arose, they were easily worked out. Whatever life threw at you was manageable and under control. But then, suddenly, something happened. Some tragedy struck so quickly and unexpectedly that things seemed to come crashing down around you. For years you had been working hard to build a good life for yourself and family, but then, without warning, your good life was threatened, interrupted, and perhaps damaged beyond repair. Think for a minute about these scenarios:

⇒ A good relationship suddenly deteriorates and falls apart.

⇒ A child starts acting up or gets into serious trouble.

⇒ Unexpected bills arise or an investment goes bad.

⇒ You lose your job, home, or a beloved family member.

⇒ You are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness.

In other words, tragedy strikes and you feel attacked by fate, bad fortune, Satan, or even the Lord. You believe you are doing everything right but, in return, your life begins to unravel around you. On top of that, nothing you do seems to change or improve the situation. Hopelessness sets in and there appears to be no way out of your desperate situation.

This was the position Job found himself in. Job had a good life, in fact, a very successful, satisfying, and happy life. He was a moral and righteous man who loved the Lord with all his heart. Then suddenly, out of nowhere, one tragedy after another bombarded him. Before Job could comprehend what was happening, it was all over. He had lost everything. His ideal life was interrupted by Satanic attacks and horrible suffering.

This is the captivating drama of the book of Job, the real-life story of a godly man under assault by the evil one, Satan himself. In the opening two chapters, we witness a riveting account of the warfare waged in the spiritual world for the lives of men and women. This is, Job's Rich Life and Happiness Interrupted by Satanic Attacks and Horrible Suffering, 1:1-2:13.

Job's Rich Life and Happiness Interrupted by Satanic Attacks and Horrible Suffering, 1:1-2:13.

1. Job's remarkable life, character, and faith in God (1:1-5).

2. Job's accuser and adversary—Satan (1:6-12).

3. Job's faithfulness despite catastrophic loss (1:13-22).

4. Job's relentless enemy and attacker—Satan (2:1-6).

5. Job's perseverance despite physical suffering and rejection (2:7-10).

6. Job's encouragement from a visit by three friends (2:11-13).

Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – Job.

Thought 1. As we face trials and suffering throughout life, we need to keep Job's experience in mind. In fact,

Scripture teaches that we are in a spiritual war every day of our lives (; ).

We may not see the spiritual battles waged in heaven, the spiritual wars behind what happens here on earth. Still, we can be sure that God has all things under control and that He will use everything we experience for our good if we will place our trust in Him (). This does not discount the pain and grief we feel when we go through suffering. However, such knowledge gives us confidence and patience to endure the suffering. It is the trials and tribulations that cause our faith to grow. Through hardship and struggle, we are driven to turn to God either for greater strength or to repent of sin. Trials and suffering arouse us to trust God with more assurance. For these reasons, we should not complain or become embittered when we face hardship. Rather, we should praise and honor the Lord, just as Job did.

Listen to what God's Holy Word says about enduring and persevering through trials—even counting suffering as joy.

"But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved" ().

"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing" ().

"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him" ().

"Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience" ().

"Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy" ().

Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – Job.

Thought 1. Job's attitude seems to go against human nature. Far too often when people face trouble, their first response is to ask, Why me? Or, how could this happen to me now when I am so young? Or, why now, when there is still so much to do? Many people become bitter and blame God. They wonder, How could God let this happen to me? Or, What did I do to deserve this? These questions stem from not understanding how God uses suffering in our lives.

God uses suffering… to refine and purify us

to arouse us to repent of our sin and turn to God

to stir us to continually cry out to God for help, which forces us to trust God and to fellowship with Him more and more

to strengthen us through the endurance of suffering

to arouse us to obey God more than ever before and to live far more righteous lives

to make us stronger witnesses for God

"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God" ().

to stir us to continually cry out to God for help, which forces us to trust God and to fellowship with Him more and moreto strengthen us through the endurance of sufferingto arouse us to obey God more than ever before and to live far more righteous livesto make us stronger witnesses for God"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God" (). This is a hard lesson for some believers to learn, especially if they feel they have been promised health and wealth or have (mis)understood that God's wonderful plan for their lives involves only pleasantness and not trouble. Believers on this side of the cross have many more examples from both the Bible and church history of God's people who have suffered. Job was much more in the dark. Yet out of that darkness his strong belief in the sovereignty of God shone forth all the more brilliantly.

This is a hard lesson for some believers to learn, especially if they feel they have been promised health and wealth or have (mis)understood that God's wonderful plan for their lives involves only pleasantness and not trouble. Believers on this side of the cross have many more examples from both the Bible and church history of God's people who have suffered. Job was much more in the dark. Yet out of that darkness his strong belief in the sovereignty of God shone forth all the more brilliantly.

The value of enduring hardship:

Note what else God's Word says about the value of enduring hardship:

"Now no chastening [suffering, discipline] for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby" ().

"But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they [the Egyptians] were grieved because of the children of Israel" ().

"Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty" ().

"But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold" ().

"Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more" ().

"Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word" ().

Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – Job.

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