Greatest Opportunities Come To Us In Suffering

Common Sense Commentary:   "And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.  And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?   Jesus answered, Neither.... but that the works of God should be made manifest in him." Jn.9:1-3.
The question His disciples asked of Jesus, was totally irrelevant to the need of this blind man. They were obviously looking for someone to blame for the blind man's condition.  But, Jesus redirected their negative response, to the man's difficulty and suffering, to a positive view of this serious handicap put upon the poor man from birth.  He said, in effect, you are, yourselves,  blind to the opportunity God has blessed you with.... The man is not blind because of anyone's sins "but that the works of God might be demonstrated, in his healing, for the whole world to see how great God is.  It's an opportunity to do something wonderful, beneficial and eternal."

The question for us is, Do we judge those who suffer ... as sinners, above other sinners, and assume that God is punishing them?  Or do we give them our verbal sympathy ... rather that a helping hand?  Or do we see the suffering of others as a God given opportunity to serve Him by helping them?

Human flesh is nothing in eternity, and therefore... very little in the present. Human suffering is most important in, first, the response of others to the person suffering and second, in how the suffering person reacts to their own situation.  By this I mean, God may very well be testing those who are aware of the suffering person's problem more than the person who suffers.  When we see a person in great pain, sickness, depression desperation, hunger or heart break, do we respond with prayer, counsel, food, money or love: or do we give kind and gentle, verbal expressions of regret and sympathy.... and nothing else?
"If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food; And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?" Jm.2:15-16.


Consider the fact it may be you who is in first position as the one being tested by God, more than the person doing the suffering.


Then, of course, sooner or later, you and I will get our turn at being the suffering ones.  How will we handle it?  Will we criticize and resent those who neglect us, or whine and blame someone... or God Himself, for our painful dilemma?  Will we turn to God for our primary solace or seek it from other people ... and be disappointed at the level of their ability and concern to help us? I have seen this reaction a thousand times.

Looking at suffering objectively, one must realize that there is far more suffering among all the hundreds of people around us than there is in you or me personally. That fact is a revelation of spiritual opportunity. There is never a time when a non-Christian is more likely to respond to Christ than when in crisis and being helped by a Christian witness.  The same is true of a disengaged, backsliden Christian who is a prospect to become an active member of your church fellowship.... if they see Christ in you. These are the times and reasons God left us here on this needy, suffering earth .... after He saved us. This is our responsibility, and opportunity, as Christians.

"If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food; And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?" Jm.2:15-16.