Why Do Bad Things Happen to God's People

Last month our pastor taught on 2 Corinthians 1:3-11. He said the question we often ask is "Why do bad things happen to good people?" But Romans 3:12 makes it clear that there are no good people, "All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." Romans 3:12

Instead, the question should be, "Why do good things happen to bad people?" This is quite a different perspective from popular opinion.

Here are 10 of the reasons our pastor gave why bad things happen to God's people, according to the scriptures:

1. Verse 3-4: It allows me to know God better. Suffering is a prerequisite for knowing God's comfort.
2. Verse 4a: It equips me to be a comfort to others. You can relate to their problem and to the solution.
3. Verse 5: It is part of belonging to Christ. Abundant sufferings and abundant comfort is part of the package of belonging to Christ. (The cross has demolished for all time that life is fair).
4. Verse 6a: It is the price of reaching lost people. (2 Corinthians 12:15)
5. Verse 6b-7: It is the opportunity to demonstrate my faith. When do people watch me most closely? When suffering comes into my life!
6. Verse 8: It causes me to focus on what's really important. C. S. Lewis said, "God whispers in our pleasure, but He shouts in our pain."
7. Verse 9: It keeps me from trusting in myself.
"God won't put more on you than you can bear." This is not in the Bible as people often claim.
Verse 8 says "...we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength." This is "more than we can bear."
8. Verse 9b-10: It makes me trust in God alone.
9. Verse 11a: It shows me my need of others. When you're suffering, you ask others to pray. It also allows me to ask for help and allow others to serve me (and vice versa).
10. Verse 11b: It brings more praise to God. Results of others praying: I get help and God gets more thanks.