WHY IS LIFE SO UNFAIR?

Romans 8.18-29

Introduction:

We spend a lot of time on the “backward” thinking rather than the “forward” thinking: it is as though we’re looking for a cause rather than what our response should be to the bad experience that we are going through.

Backward- why me?, why is it so unfair?

Forward- How can I or how should I respond?

Adversities or bad experiences happen to all of us. The problem often times is not with the event but in our response to the event. These unexpected events often times produce three different types of people:

Wanderers- those who become bitterly disillusioned by their pain and suffering.

Wonderers- those who become obsessed with the unanswerable questions.

Worshippers- those who have become completely dependent on God and understand their need for Him.

Romans 8:28- “We know”- how could Paul say this?

The Bible has all the answers that we need when we are going through bad experiences.

I. To teach us that certain actions may lead to painful consequences- Proverbs 2: 1-5; 10-22

“little sins lead to big sins or small compromises lead to great disasters”

A. The woman that chooses to go with the evil man will suffer the consequences-vs. 12-15

B. The man that chooses to go with the strange woman will suffer the consequences-vs. 16-19

C. We know that the lost man makes these choices on a regular basis, but this is talking about a believer that has backslidden to the point of seducing another’s spouse.

D. The wrong actions that we choose will lead to painful results:

1. Alcohol, drugs (illegal or prescription).

2. Overeating

3. Worry instead of prayer

4. Lust- “is a desire that cannot be righteously filled”

5. Begin to miss church

6. Choose to reject Christ as Saviour

Bad things often are a direct result of Bad Decisions!!!

II. To display the work of God in our lives- II Corinthians 12:7-11

A. God’s purposes are not always within our view- only through the Word of God can we begin to see from His perspective!!! God knows the end of the story!!!

Joseph-(Genesis 50:20) But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

B. God’s purposes are often not what we are looking for:

1. Lazarus- (John 11:4) When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

2. (John 11:45) Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.

C. The amount of “good” that a bad experience produces in our life is directly connected to how we respond to the situation!!!

D. Would have never seen the miracle of God in the raising of Lazarus if they would not have removed the stone:

(John 11:37) And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?

(John 11:38) Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.

(John 11:39) Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.

(John 11:40) Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

(John 11:41) Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.

III. To prove the authenticity of our faith

(1 Peter 1:6) Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

(1 Peter 1:7) That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

(1 Peter 1:8) Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

(1 Peter 1:9) Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

A. God often puts us in circumstances to test the “realness” of our faith.

B. It is easy to talk of faith when none is needed:

· Family, finances, health are good

· Family, finances, health are bad

The testing of faith maybe just to determine the truth about your lack of faith.

IV. To point us to eternal truths that are relevant to everyone

A. The time of suffering and adversities are often the only time that most people take the time to ponder the eternal.

B. The sickness or death of a loved one is a time of realizing that there is something more than just: getting up, going to work, coming home, watching TV, spending time with family, laying down to sleep, getting up and starting the cycle all over again.

C. These God ordained “pause” are to get our attention to focus on the eternal truths that God wants us to see!!!!

(Proverbs 27:1) Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

(Luke 12:16) And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:

(Luke 12:17) And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

(Luke 12:18) And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

(Luke 12:19) And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

(Luke 12:20) But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

(James 4:14) Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

V. To expose our need for “supernatural outside intervention”

A. For the believer bad experiences happen to drive us to our knees and to God.

B. For the unbeliever bad experiences happen to bring one to the realization the “I need help”

(Hebrews 4:16) Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

C. Your problems will never exceed the ability of God to handle them!!!!

(Philippians 4:11) Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

(Philippians 4:12) I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

(Philippians 4:13) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Conclusion:

For the believer the “bad experiences” of this life are as bad as it will get. For to be absent from the body is to present with the Lord.

For the unbeliever the “bad experiences” of this life are nothing compared to an eternity spent without God in a place called Hell.

Why is life so unfair- is not really the question to ask; but the question should be- How should I respond to this trial?

Christian-running to God for strength

Non-Christian-running to God for salvation

Everyone has had bad experiences-

Wandering, wondering, or worshipping!!

Often the outcome to a situation is directly affected by our reaction to it!!!!

WE can KNOW all things work together for good when we place our faith and trust in the ONE that WORKS IN ALL THINGS!!!!!