Why Does it Have to Be This Way?

Introduction:

Do you feel like you are always getting the short end of the stick? Do you feel like you live a pretty good life and yet bad things always seem to be lurking around the corner? Are you familiar with Murphy on a first name basis? If so, you may be struggling with the problem of evil.

The problem of evil asks, “Why do good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good people?” If God is so good, why doesn’t He stop evil from happening and intervene?

Today, we are going to take a look at what the answer to this question is. Solomon struggled with it and you and I may as well. Let’s take a closer look at .

Read text. Pray.

1. Bad Things Happen to Good People (v.14a)

This statement seems obvious for all of us. We would all consider ourselves to be good people and we can all say that we have had some bad things happen to us. We might have a car breakdown, a washing machine go out, a roof start leaking and all in the same month.

Most of us can relate to life in a fallen world where things tear up and wear out. But there is a difference between things wearing out and needing maintenance and evil things happening. For example, if you were locked up for sharing your faith, that would be an example of a bad thing happening to a “good” person.

Much of what we consider to be bad is really nothing more than an inconvenience to us. With appropriate planning, we can expect these things and prepare for them. Jesus even told us to prepare for the truly evil things that would happen to us. He said,

John 16:33 ESV

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

He also said in

John 15:18–21 ESV

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.

What do we do when bad things happen like this? Well, Jesus also answered that question.

John 15:26–27 ESV

“But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.

John 15:26

and inChapter 16, verse 7...

John 15:7 ESV

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

John 16:7 ESV

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.

John 16:7

When bad things happen to you, lean on the Helper to help you. God will get you through it.

2. Good Things Happen to Bad People (v.14b)

In the same way that it is easy to see that bad things happen to “good” people, it is also easy to see that good things happen to “bad” people. We have already seen some of the injustices that Solomon has observed in this pessimistic observation of life, but we see that God in His providence does allow the wicked to not only go unpunished for a while, but also to even allow blessings to fall on them.

For many, these blessings are what cause them to doubt the character of God. However, we have to stay tuned to the end of the story before weighing in on God’s character.

The major question we have to ask is why God allows this. There are two answers.

This world is currently under the sway of the evil one.

God is in control of all that happens and is completely sovereign over His creatures, including the evil ones like Satan and his demons. God uses their decisions to ultimately accomplish His divine plan, but that does not mean He is the author of their evil. God also limits their evil and what they are allowed to do.

God

Matthew 5:45 ESV

so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

3. Solomon’s Solution: Enjoy Life as Best As You Can (v.15)

4. Conclusion: Man Can’t Figure Out God’s Ways (vv. 16-17)

Luke 13:1-5

Luke 13:1–5 ESV

There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

We all deserve bad things to happen to us.

God shows mercy to all.

God is patient in rendering judgment.

God will ultimately judge the wiked