Our Light Affliction

Introduction:

Are you kidding, Paul? What do you mean, “our light affliction?” Some of us are going through heavy affliction; where do you come off calling it light? Paul is writing under inspiration and knows whereof he speaks. Whatever your affliction, it is really light. Here are seven reasons why that is true:

I. Your affliction is light when compared with that of many others.

A. No matter how heavy, there are others with worse.

B. Paul endured incredible afflictions—he speaks from experience.

II. Your affliction is light compared with your deserts.

A. It is unworthy to be compared to the woes of the lost (slightly revealed in story of rich man and Lazarus).

B. You actually deserve the woes of hell (and would have them were it not for the grace of God in Christ).

III. Your affliction is light compared to that of your Lord.

A. He drained an ultimate cup of woe.

B. Thus the One who regulates our afflictions knows exactly what afflictions really are.

IV. Your affliction is light compared with the blessings you enjoy.

A. We possess:

1. Salvation.

2. Righteousness.

3. Adoption.

4. The privileges of the children of God.

5. The assurance of future glories.

B. No amount of affliction can take these blessings away (or outweigh them either).

V. Your affliction is light in comparison to its benefits to you.

A. It proves the power of sustaining grace.

B. It is designed of God to make changes in you.

1. It can drive out sin.

2. It can develop character.

3. It can deepen your walk with God.

VI. Your affliction is light because of its relative brevity.

A. “Which is but for a moment”—it is not lasting.

B. It must be viewed as relative.

1. Compare it to the overall span of life.

2. Compare it to the reach of eternity.

VII. Your affliction is light in comparison to the glory to be revealed.

A. Paul refers to “a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”

B. Handling the affliction right can increase the weight of glory.

1. It can make us more what God wants us to be.

2. It can increase the weight of the reward awaiting us.

Conclusion:

Our afflictions are much a matter of focus. Focus on the afflictions, and they become heavy. Focus on what God is doing through them, and they lose weight. Whatever it is that you are going through, will you see it through God’s eyes? Or will you see it as some heavy weight? Paul says, “For our light affliction which is but for a moment,” and we had better agree with him.

Wood, C. R. (1994). Sermon Outlines on Great Doctrinal Themes (p. 9–10). Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications.