Suffering

Posted: Thursday, September 2, 2010 by Morgan in
1

As an American, my "bad days" are insignificant in comparison to the rest of the world. So what if I had to spend a lot of extra time preparing my food? So what if I have to ride my bike 4 miles every day carrying a heavy backpack? So what if I had a hard time with engineering homework? So what if I had to walk around in the hot sun writing tickets all day for my security job? So what if I don't know many people? So what if my religion class is a joke?


You know what I realized? None of this stuff matters.

The fact is, I can cook my own food, I have stuff to carry around, I have the ability and the privilege to learn complex technical information, I have a job and transportation and friends. What am I complaining about?

As a Christian, I can be sure of a couple things: that I will spend eternity with Christ (yes, please), and that that I will suffer on this earth (1 Peter 4:12). I'm not sure anything we experience in America on a day-to-day basis can really be called suffering. Think about the people who live on a dollar a day. If what we face is suffering, their daily life is a horrific, unending torture. I suppose one could argue that "relative suffering" is some kind of negative deviation from the normal or desired lifestyle, but I am so sick of subjective crap like that and I don't think that argument would carry much weight when God is looking at our lives and actions and attitudes and thoughts objectively (he does look at all that stuff you know).

At the same time, there is a difference between "just suffering" and suffering for your faith. This sort of suffering can be common with the wealthiest American and the most impoverished and destitute Somali farmer. Christianity is a great equalizer in many ways. This is the sort of suffering that is promised to all believers. 1 Peter 3:14 says,
But if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them or be troubled.
And in the next verse, Peter gives a reason for this suffering,
But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
Paul says almost exactly the same thing in Romans 8:17-18

—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Just put your suffering in perspective. We have it easy. Be thankful for where God has put you and what He has given you there.


"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

1 comments:

  1. Jim/Dad says:
    September 6, 2010 at 3:34 PM

    Yes, and Amen! An eternal perspective is supreme. All others are subject to our temporal experiences, and they are as fickled as the weather. Momentarily stuck on the Dot but living for the Line!