Paul and Suffering
In many respects,
Paul was a remarkable man. God
called him “a chosen vessel
unto Me, to bear My name before
the Gentiles, and kings, and the
children of Israel.”
Acts 9:15. Immediately upon his
conversion, God showed him
“how great things he must
suffer for My name’s
sake.” Verse 16. As
suffering was to be a part of
God’s program for Paul, he
came to look upon it as a
privilege. He said, “Unto
you it is given in the behalf of
Christ, not only to believe on
Him, but also to suffer for His
sake.” Philippians 1:29.
Peter told the
believers, “If, when we do
well, and suffer for it, ye take
it patiently, this is acceptable
to God.” 1 Peter 2:20. Paul
took the same ground in Romans
12:12, where he told the saints
to be “patient in
tribulation.”
While both agreed
that to be patient in tribulation
is “acceptable to God,”
Paul took an advanced position
when he said that as for himself
he had learned not only to be
patient in suffering, but to rejoice
in his sufferings for
them.” Colossians 1:24.
Few have advanced
that far. Most think that they do
well if they are patient in
suffering. Moreover, God says
that this is acceptable. However,
Paul wanted to go further,
following Christ’s
admonition in Matthew 5:11,12:
“Blessed are ye, when men
shall revile you, and persecute
you, and shall say all manner of
evil against you falsely, for My
sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding
glad: for great is your reward in
heaven: for so persecuted they
the prophets which were before
you.”
Christ “took
our infirmities, and bare our
sicknesses.” Matthew 8:17.
He was tempted in all points
“like as we are, yet without
sin.” Hebrews 4:15. As
“He Himself hath suffered
being tempted, He is able to
succor them that are
tempted.” Hebrews 2:18.
These trials came to Christ
“that He might be a merciful
and faithful High Priest.”
Verse 17.
As Paul learned
that Christ’s sufferings
enabled Him to sympathize with
others and understand their
sufferings, he desired to be
permitted to suffer with Christ.
Thus, he also would be able, when
others suffered, to understand
and help them.
Paul’s
Sufferings
The more Paul
thought of suffering, not as
affliction but as a means of
preparation to help others, the
more he desired to go all the way
with Christ and suffer as He had
suffered. To the Corinthians he
wrote that God “comforteth
us in all our tribulation, that
we may be able to comfort them
which are in any trouble, by the
comfort wherewith we ourselves
are comforted of God. For as the
sufferings of Christ abound in
us, so our consolation also
aboundeth by Christ. And whether
we be afflicted, it is for your
consolation and salvation, which
is effectual in the enduring of
the same sufferings which we also
suffer: or whether we be
comforted, it is for your
consolation and salvation.”
2 Corinthians 1:4-6.
Paul considered
his sufferings vicarious, as were
Christ’s. He did not suffer
for himself; he suffered for
others. Moreover, his sufferings
would benefit the saints. As he
suffered and was comforted by
God, he was enabled to comfort
others with the same comfort
which he had received.
We suppose that
Paul was sensitive to pain as are
other men. He did not enjoy pain
for pain’s sake. It was only
as pain served a definite purpose
in helping others that he was
interested in it. If he could do
others good by suffering, he was
not only willing but also anxious
to suffer.
Paul discovered
that he could do this. When some
afflicted saint learned that Paul
had an experience similar to his,
a bond of sympathy and
understanding was immediately
established, and the poor soul
took courage. He could at least
learn to bear with patience the
tribulation over which Paul
rejoiced.
The Thorn
in the Flesh
Paul stated,
“I have learned, in
whatsoever state I am, therewith
to be content.” Philippians
4:11. Therefore, when he found
himself in prison with a
lacerated back from which the
blood ran down, he began to think
how this particular experience
would be of help to him. Then
“Paul and Silas prayed, and
sang praises unto God: and the
prisoners heard them.” Acts
16:25. Doubtless, the other
inmates wondered if these men had
lost their minds, for who had
ever heard a person singing for
joy after being beaten with
“many stripes”?
Paul wanted to
follow Christ all the way. As
Christ has suffered, so Paul
wanted to suffer. As he went to
the cross, so Paul wanted to be
“made comfortable unto his
death.” Philippians 3:10. As
Christ in all things was made
like unto His brethren, so Paul
wanted all things to be made like
unto Christ.
Paul was greatly
beloved of God, yet all his life
he had to live with a thorn in
the flesh, which he frankly
confesses was given to keep him
humble. Paul would not have
needed to make this confession.
While we might suspect that the
many revelations he had would
tend to make him proud, we would
not be sure that this was the
case unless he had expressly said
so. Twice in the same verse, he
stated that the thorn was given
him “lest I should be
exalted above measure.” 2
Corinthians 12:7. He called the
thorn “the messenger of
Satan to buffet me.” Paul
gave us this information to let
us know that God is no respecter
of persons and that there is no
difference of treatment because
of position.
While we do not
know what the thorn was, we may
be certain that it was painful
affliction or Paul would not call
it a thorn. God did not remove
the thorn, but gave him the grace
to bear it, and from a full heart
Paul could say, “Most gladly
therefore will I glorify in my
infirmities, that the power of
Christ may rest upon me.”
Verse 9.
From these
considerations, we learn that
when affliction comes to one of
the saints, God has His purpose
in it and that He is working out
some plan that will eventually be
for our good. Satan will always
be present trying to discourage
and harass the saint. However, if
the sick will co-operate with
God, Satan’s attempt will
only strengthen him in his
determination to do the right at
all costs, and he will be
stronger for the conflict. Thus,
it may be with every assault of
Satan.
This same
principle I saw illustrated in a
school I was once connected with.
There were two teachers of
mathematics in the school, a
young man and a man of more
experience. The younger man was
asked to teach a subject which he
had not taught before. The school
furnished a teacher’s
manual, which would save the
teacher much time and work. The
older teacher kept the book from
the younger teacher, causing him
to have a difficult time.
However, without the manual he
had to study harder, with the
result that when the year ended
he was a much better teacher that
if he had received help. He
became so proficient in his field
that in due time he became the
head of his department, something
that might not have occurred if
he had not had to do his own
studying. What was meant to
hamper him turned out to be a
help.
Satan Is
Happy
Satan would like
to torment us and is happy when
he can bring us into difficult
positions. However, in doing so,
he is really working against
himself, for “tribulations
worketh patience,” the very
virtue God would have us develop.
For this reason
Paul could say, “We glorify
in tribulations also: knowing
that tribulation worketh
patience.” Romans 5:3. Thus,
when Satan throws rocks in our
path, God makes them into
steppingstones if we work with
Him.
Sickness may be a
disheartening and discouraging
experience as we consider the
grief and sorrow it brings to our
loved ones. If in addition to
this we fear that God has
forsaken or forgotten us, and
that He does not seem to hear our
prayers, it may be distressing
and faith trying hour. Trust in
God dims, faith in Him wavers,
financial involvements dismay us,
and we wonder if God really has
forsaken us. We go through the
deep waters. The lamp of hope
burns low.
However, let the
sick and discouraged souls look
to God. He still lives and loves.
He may let the dark clouds
envelop us temporarily; but
behind the cloud is the sunshine
of God’s love. God is at
every sickbed, ready to help as
needed. Cling by faith to the
promises of God. Search your
hearts for sins of which you may
not be fully aware. Be honest
with yourself and with your God.
Confess where needed. Restore
where restitution is possible.
Clear the King’s highway;
make straight paths for your
feet. If you thus seek God and
ask Him to reveal to you any
unsuspected weakness, He will
come near.
If after this
thorough and honest
self-examination you are not
conscious of sin, or if you have
sinned and confessed, then thank
God for His forgiveness and love,
and by faith rejoice that God has
accepted you, and ask Him to
cleanse you from every
sin. As you do this, new hope and
peace will come into your soul,
and being perfectly resigned to
God, you may from the heart say,
“Lord, Thy will be
done.”
You have done what
you could, and God will do His
part.
Memory Verse:
“To keep
me from becoming conceited
because of these surpassingly
great revelations, there was
given me a thorn in my flesh, a
messenger of Satan, to torment
me. Three times I pleaded with
the Lord to take it away from me.
But he said unto me, “My
grace is sufficient for you, for
my power is made perfect in
weakness.” 2 Corinthians
12:7.
Questions:
1. Are
trials and tribulations necessary
to strengthen our character in
Christ? Explain.
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2. Paul
wanted to follow Christ all the
way, even unto death. Is your
faith getting stronger even unto
death during the Great
Tribulation? Explain.
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