SHCC Bible lesson why do bad things happen to good people
Why do bad things happen to good People
Teacher: Pastor Michael Farichild
PURPOSE:
To deal with the question of why good people suffer bad things.
PROLOGUE:
John F Kennedy said “a rising tide lifts all boats”. The Bible tells us “Matthew 5:25 (in part) for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
Consider what Jesus said in Luke 13:1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices 2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish 4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
The Tsunami that killed 140,000 people in Indonesia in 2004 killed and maimed the good and the bad. We have to accept that bad things happen to good and bad people because they live in a common world.
We all know some good people who have experienced terrible things or lost their lives. The first thing some people think is why me or why them? We even ask a more human question of “why did God let this happen”?
I knew two women who died from lung cancer. They were very good people. The problem was they had smoked cigarettes for 30 years. People prayed for them to survive but their bodies were ravaged by the Cancer. Why do we wonder why God didn’t answer the prayers asking God to prolong their lives. We all know people who abuse their bodies and then expect God to rectify their poor judgment.
Bad things happen to all people good and bad. Being good does not protect you from something bad happening. Just like being bad does not preclude something good happening. Fact is, things happen. If there is a reward to be given to the good then it would follow that punishment would be given to the bad.
Are we then to expect God to treat us like robots without a conscience or will of our own just to protect us from something bad happening to us? Question is, does God micro manage our lives or did he give us the right to decide things for ourselves? Every person has the awesome responsibility for themselves. We decide things for ourselves. Personal responsibility is nothing other than the freedom to create our own lives, we call it freedom of choice.
The intellect wants answers while the emotions cry out for relief.
If the truth was known, the good are not as likely to have bad things happen to them because they usually live a healthier, cleaner life. The bad usually live in a way that they are exposed to bad things. I don’t know too many good people that are alcoholics or drug addicts or law breakers. The prisons are full of bad people who do bad things.
Our concept of good versus bad people is purely our own judgment. We compare people on the basis of what they do and don’t do. We will never be able to understand why they do what they do. Because someone “acts” good, we assume they are. When something bad happens to them, we wonder why.
If the alcoholic or drug addict has something bad happen to them, we think they had it coming. This is pure judgment on our part and we are not qualified. The Bible tells us the judgment occurs after we die, not before. We are clearly told in Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.
I once heard an explanation that helped me to better understand this matter. A Father and Son were walking into the Church when the boy stumbled and fell. The Father picked him up, brushed him off and checked him out to see if he was OK. The point is that the Father could not keep the boy from falling but he could pick him up and make sure he was OK. This is somewhat the way our relationship is with God. He is there to pick us up and console us.
PROCEDURE:
1. Discuss “freedom of choice”.
2. Why should we not judge other people as to whether they are good or bad?
3. What is meant by Matthew 5:45?
4. What did Kennedy mean by “a rising tide lifts all boats”?
5. Discuss this subject openly and emphasize the reason God does not micro manage our lives.
Passages to consider:
Paul, Job, and Jeremiah were devout followers of Jehovah God yet they suffered intense hardship & pain.
2 Corinthians 12:7 Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself!
Job 1:8 The LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.”
Jeremiah 12:1-3 1 You are always righteous, LORD, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease? 2 You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit. You are always on their lips but far from their hearts. 3 Yet you know me, LORD; you see me and test my thoughts about you.
Comments:
____Walking with Jesus moment by moment will enable the Christian to have peace during the bad times – Blameless & upright people like Job suffered unjustly yet accepted the fact that God gives blessings and then sometimes takes them away – we must keep an eternal perspective when going through trials – God uses these trials to make us stronger and more faithful Christians ____Michael Fairchild____