Why Do We Suffer?

Suffering is inevitable, particularly when we get old and sick. Suffering comes in different ways, such as parents seeing their beloved kids leaving for colleges. Why do we suffer? Let’s learn from the book of Job.
 
Satan accused Job of fearing God because God had given him a lot. Job1. In OT, “fear” means an inward awe and wonder.
 
God, in control, allowed Satan to cause Job to lose all his children, servants and animals in one day. Typical responses fall into two camps.
 
Moralistic people believe that if you have lived a good life, you will get good stuffs. So, suffering is God’s punishment for bad behaviors. Cynical people don’t believe in God, or believe in God being incompetent/indifferent. To them, bad consequences are their own failure. Both responses arise from us intending to take control in life.
 
Suffering has no pat answers.
 
But we know one thing. We will suffer if we live for earthly objects because, for sure, one day we will lose them.
 
God never explained to Job why he suffered, but just asked Job whom he thought He was.
 
God could have told Job that the process had an end, with him getting back somewhat to where he was; and through it, he would become one of the most famous persons on earth, with the rest of history learning from him.
 
Instead God put him through the wringer. From the unexplained suffering, Job gained a better understanding of God and himself.
 
One of the main challenges of going through sufferings is that we doubt God’s goodness, love for us, and power.
 
According to Satan, there is no love. We are all self-centered mercenaries, manipulators. We are nice to others because we want things from others. We are serving ourselves.
 
When Satan went to Adam and Eve and alleged God didn’t really care for them, they agreed. We are similar. So, we want to be in control and we focus on earthly objects.
 
God shows us there is love and goodness via the cross. Christ has everything. Yet, He gave them up, was crushed and abandoned. Christ’s action shows God loves us as who we are, proving Satan a liar.
 
When we suffer on earth, accept them and accept our ignorance.
 
Trust our mighty God has His plan. Trust in His goodness and His love for us.
 
Summarized from a Tim Keller sermon
https://gospelinlife.com/downloads/questions-of-suffering-5565/

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我们为什么受苦？
 
痛苦是不可避免的，特别是我们变老和生病的时侯。痛苦会以不同的方式出现，比如当父母看到心爱的孩子们離自己去上大学之时，心里就会涌出苦楚的感受。我们为什么受苦呢？ 让我们从约伯记学习这个功课。
 
撒但指责约伯只是因为上帝大大的赐福才敬畏祂（约伯记1）。 在旧约中，“fear”意味着内心的敬畏和惊奇。上帝在自己掌控之下, 允许撒旦一天之内使约伯失去所有的孩子，仆人和耕畜。
 
面对困难的悲剧，典型的反应可以分为两个阵营。
 
道德主义者认为，如果有良好的行为，就会善有善报。 因此，苦难是上帝对罪恶行为的惩罚。個性多疑, 好諷刺的人则不相信神，或者坚持神无能或冷漠, 认为失敗是自取其咎。 这两种反应，都基于人的行为会掌控自己的生命。
 
然而，没有简单答案可以解释苦難的原因。但我们知道如果为世上的物質而活，我们终将受苦， 因为有一天我们会失去它们。
 
上帝从未向约伯解释他为什么受苦，而是挑战约伯眼中的上帝是谁。
 
上帝可以告诉约伯这个苦难之程终将结束，到时上帝会再次赐福他新的家庭和财富; 上帝也可以通过这个過程中启示约伯，让他知道自己将成为世上著名的人。
 
然而，上帝没有如此行。相反地，上帝把约伯放进火炉来熬炼。約伯从这没有解释的苦难中，更深地认识了上帝，也更深地认识了他自已。
 
在苦難中最主要的挑战之一，是我们开始怀疑上帝的良善,慈爱和大能。
 
在撒旦看来没有爱。我们与人为善的原因是有求于人。
 
撒旦去找亚当和夏娃, 告诉他们上帝并不真正关心他们时，两个人相信了他的谎言。我们也与亚当和夏娃相似。我们希望掌控一切，专注于地上的物質。
 
上帝通过十字架向我们显明了在祂那里有慈爱有良善。基督拥有一切，然而祂为我们舍弃了一切，被压伤，被抛弃。基督以行动表明上帝按我们的本相爱我们，证明撒旦是个说谎的骗子。
 
所以，当我们在世上受苦时，要接受这苦难, 并且接受我们不知道那受苦的原因。
 
让我们相信这位良善慈爱的上帝在苦难后面有祂自己美好的计划。