When God's Saints Are Afflicted
Life has its varied afflictions – disappointment, guilt, suffering, grief, deprivation, hostility, persecution, death – all are the universal plight of mankind. Righteous Job stated that “man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble” (Job 14:1). Moses said, “We finish our years like a sigh … for it is soon cut off, and we fly away” (Psalms 90:9-10). Likewise, David by inspiration writes of his afflictions and their positive effects in his life (Psalms 119:65-72). From this text let us consider three lessons to remember when God’s saints are afflicted.
GOD HAS DEALT ACCORDING TO HIS WORD (verse 65). Nowhere does God teach us that we can escape life’s varied aff1ictions because we are His children. Concerning the afflictions of God’s people, Peter said, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy” (I Peter 4:12-13).
Too many view life’s afflictions with a “why me?” disposition, questioning, accusing, and renouncing God because of life’s tragedies. But God says, “If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small” (Proverbs 24:10). Addressing Christians who were suffering severe persecution for their faith, Jesus said, “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). Rather than Christians giving a cowardly retreat when confronted with tribulations, Jesus said be faithful even if it costs your life! Life’s trials must not become excuses for our negligence in service to God.
WE YEARN FOR GOD (verses 66, 69, 72). First, God’s people, in the face of affliction, must seek for wisdom to live pleasing to God. David’s petition was, “Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe Your commandments” (verse 66). Also, James instructed afflicted saints to ask God for wisdom so truth may be applied in life’s struggles (James 1:2-5).
Second, Christians must genuinely commit to God. David said, “I will keep Your precepts with my whole heart” (verse 69). Those who are half-hearted, double- minded and with a divided allegiance are the antithesis to the total commitment that the Lord demands of his people. “Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass” (Psalms 37:5). The apostle Peter, teaching the value of Christian suffering, concluded by saying, “Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator” (I Peter 4:19).
Third, saints must have their priorities in the right order. David showed what was most important in his life when he said, “The law of Your mouth is better for me than thousands of shekels of gold and silver” (verse 72). Yearning for God, we will seek the discernment to “approve the things that are excellent” (Philippians 1:10). Those who are spiritually mature have exercised themselves “to discern both good and evil” (Hebrews 5:14).
WE PROFIT BY AFFLICTIONS (verses 67, 71). Rather than have a “woe is me” attitude when afflicted, David knew the spiritual value that could be derived from such in his life. “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word … It was good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes” (verses 67, 71). How easy it is to forget God when all is going well. Moses sought to impress this upon the heart of Israel before they entered Canaan: “Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, lest – when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt of bondage … then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth’” (Deuteronomy 8:11-14, 17).
Consider three benefits of afflictions according to scripture: First, to be humbled. Moses reminded Israel how God afflicted them to wander forty years in the wilderness, “to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not” (Deuteronomy 8:2). The way in which man becomes guilty of lifting up his heart to forget God in times of prosperity (like now) is stated by Moses, “then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth’” (Deuteronomy 8:17). The prodigal son “came to himself” because he had hit rock bottom in his life (Luke 15:14- 17). Likewise, even the apostle Paul was afflicted – a “thorn in the flesh … a messenger of Satan” – in order to learn humility (II Corinthians 12:7-10). All who would please God must learn humility.
Second, to become teachable and obedient. When one becomes humble, he then becomes teachable. David said, “It was good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes” (Psalms 119:71). Moses stated that Israel’s humility was designed, “So you should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the Lord your God chastens you. Therefore you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him” (Deuteronomy 8:5-6). Even our Lord Jesus “learned obedience by the things which He suffered” (Hebrews 5:8).
Third, to work patience. “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4). Patience is spiritual endurance to overcome the obstacles (afflictions) in life and remain faithful to the end – like the athlete needs to win the race (Hebrews 12:1-2; I Corinthians 9:24), like the farmer needs to harvest his crops (James 5:7-8), and so like the Christian needs to receive God’s eternal reward promised (Hebrews 10:36-39).
THE REWARD. Paul stated, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (II Timothy 4:7-8). Those athletes in Athens were motivated by one common thought – the gold medal they strove to obtain and the honor associated with it. To win the prize would be the culmination of all their hard work in training, all of their sacrifice, all of their time expended.
However, the reward of the righteous is much more valuable than a gold medal. The apostle teaches, “Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown” (I Corinthians 9:25). The glory of the gold medal, and being an Olympic champion fades into insignificance when eternal life comes into focus – and it is the Christian who has such focus: “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:1-2). The Christian has his priorities in order; he’s running the race by God’s rules; he’s practicing self-control; he’s building endurance against the temptations of this world – all to receive the imperishable crown of an eternal home in heaven. Yes, heaven will surely be worth it all!
From: SEARCH, Volume 11, Number 10, Editor: Dan Richardson