STRATFORD CHURCH OF CHRIST COLUMN
In Genesis 3:1-19, the Bible describes for us the account of Adam and Eve committing the very first sin. After eating the forbidden fruit, God made pronouncements of punishment to Adam, Eve and Satan (who had disguised himself as a serpent). But please notice as you read, both Adam and His wife tried to cast blame for their action on someone else.
In our culture, it has become popular to point fingers of blame for any problem we might have. To find someone else to cast blame on seems to be an easy thing to relieve ourselves of any fault. Some may throw blame toward their background or current surroundings to be the cause of their troubles and failures.
Why do you suppose this practice has become so popular in our day? People do not like to feel that they are at fault for any of the struggles they may have to face. To feel at fault for any of the troubles people might face may lead them to feel guilt. But many in our current society try to teach us that feeling guilty about anything is bad.
The easiest direction many find to cast blame for their difficulties is toward God. God is often blamed for things in a person’s life that are viewed as negative. It is frequently asked, “Why did God let this happen to me?”
Atheism often uses the thought, “If there really is a God, why does He let bad things happen?” The difficulties and sufferings people endure in this world are often blamed on God. But in reality, the wrong one is being blamed.
Most of us are acquainted with the suffering of Job, written about in the Old Testament. You remember that God allowed Satan to afflict Job and to test his integrity. His suffering surpassed what most would consider possible.
Chapters 1 and 2 of the book of Job describe his oxen being stolen and some of his servants being killed. Fire destroyed his sheep. The Chaldeans killed his other servants and drove away his cattle.
Then the worst news of all came. A great wind had torn down the house where his sons and daughters were and they all perished.
Following this was the pain of boils in his body. He is seen sitting on an ash heap in pain and misery and scraping his boils with a piece of broken pottery. During this time, his wife and friends extended no comfort to him.
Still, Job never charged God foolishly. Job 2:10 says, “In all this Job did not sin with his lips.” His trust in God was real! He did not have a weak faith that followed God only when times were good. Job had a faith that was as strong in times of trouble as it had been in times of prosperity.
The Bible tells us that Job accepted his suffering saying, “‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.’ In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong” (Job 1:21-22).
Under the stress of suffering and pain, people may be tempted to question the wisdom or even the goodness of God. In suffering there is sometimes a tendency to forget the love and graciousness of our Creator. Because some are unable to comprehend His gracious mercy, men often make foolish charges against God.
Some may say, “God doesn’t care about me;” or, “He isn’t being fair with me.” Someone may say, “God just doesn’t love me.” Still others have chosen to become haters of God because of the difficulties they have faced in this life.
Someone indicated that some people are inclined to recall one week of illness quicker than one year of good health. Humans are often tempted to allow hardship to blind them to the abundance of God’s goodness. Hardships can be faced and life can be much more enjoyable when we determine to count our blessings instead of detailing our problems.
I read once about a man who put a weather vane on his barn with the words “God is Love” inscribed on it. A disbelieving neighbor of his pointed out that it turned every time the wind changed direction. He asked the man, “Do you mean that the love of God is inconsistent; that it changes?” “No,” the man answered. “I mean that from whatever direction the wind may blow, God still is love!”
In whatever troubles and stresses you may endure in this life, never forget that God loves you and cares deeply for you. As you seek His blessings of help and strength, you will find the ability to carry on and conquer.