BE WISE WITH THE WEARY

BE WISE WITH THE WEARY

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth.  His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”  “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. —John 9:1-3

It is interesting because this thought is still among us today.  When someone has an ailment or a health issue there are those who think this is happened to them because of sin in that person’s life or in the case above, in a relative’s life.

            I know of a situation not too long ago where a person had a medical emergency and ended up in a hospital overnight.  One person actually told the one hospitalized that this happened to them because they had something in their life.  The accusation was that the person must have some sin in their life and God was punishing the person for it.

            Now, it is true that God does discipline His children.  But just because someone goes through something does not mean there is some sinful activity going on in their lives and God is disciplining them.  Our Lord also uses trials in our lives to mature us, or to put us in position to accomplish His will, or to test our faith.  For a person to make the statement that bad things happen to people because of sin is a disregard of God’s Word that bears witness that there are other reasons why trials come into a person’s life.  It is not always because of being discipline for sin.

            Such was the case above.  This man was born blind to show forth the glory of God as Jesus was going to heal the man.  So on one hand there are those who think it was because of sin that the man was born blind and the Lord says, “No, he was born blind to reveal the glory of God!”  Wow!

            Job is a prime example of this.  Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil” (Job 1:8).  Wow, what a testimony from God about the man Job!  Satan is allowed to tempt Job to curse God, but that does not happen even though he suffered the loss of his many animals, many of his servants, all of his children, the support of his wife and the support of his friends. 

           Here’s what one of his friends said, “Consider now: Who, being innocent, has ever perished?  Where were the upright ever destroyed?  As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it” (Job 4:7-8).  He is accusing Job of doing evil and that is why his troubles have come upon him.  Surely Job was right when he said of his friends that “I have heard many things like these; you are miserable comforters, all of you!” (Job 16:2).  Miserable comforters!  That is not what a person needs when he is going through difficulty!  They were totally wrong about Job and why he was suffering.  It was for the glory of God, not because of sin in his life!

Oh Lord God Almighty please help me to be a comforter to those who need comfort.  May this be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus.