The Forgotten Jewel of Suffering

The Forgotten Jewel of Suffering

Phil. 1:27-30

“For to you, it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake.”

                  No one enjoys suffering.  We try to avoid it at all costs and to alleviate it by any means.  At the first appearance of pain and discomfort, we run to the medicine cabinet to a whole array of pills, all designed not to heal us of the problem but merely to alleviate the symptoms so that we do not have to suffer.  We take aspirin and Tylenol for our headaches, Ibuprofen and Aleve for our aches and pains.  When the pills do not remove our pain, we go to the doctor to get something more substantial, even at the risk of becoming addicted to these drugs.  Today, there is an epidemic of addiction to opioids, which are prescribed to alleviate pain.  In the end, the cure becomes worse than the sickness.

                  Paul had a different perspective on suffering.  He saw suffering not as an evil but as a blessing.  However, the suffering he is referring to is not the aches and pains of life but the suffering that comes from our identification with Christ. When we think of suffering for Christ, our focus is naturally drawn to physical persecution.  Paul was undoubtedly well acquainted with the pain of persecution.  But the suffering he is referring to goes beyond just physical persecution.  It also includes the suffering that we may experience in our ministry itself.  In 2 Corinthians 1:4-5 Paul describes suffering as part of God’s work to equip us for more fruitful ministry.  God uses suffering as a tool to prepare us for ministering to others who are going through times of affliction.  We also suffer emotionally in the work of ministry.  Serving Christ has a cost.  Paul describes this suffering in 2 Cor 11:28 when he states that he felt the daily pressures of ministry.   Paul also describes the emotional toll and suffering that comes from serving Christ when he describes the inward fears he felt and even the depression and discouragement he experienced in the course of his ministry.

                  However, Paul did not see these sufferings as a hindrance to ministry or even harmful to him. Instead, he saw these sufferings as part of our identification with Christ.  The Forgotten Jewel of Suffering

Phil. 1:27-30

“For to you, it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake.”

                  No one enjoys suffering.  We try to avoid it at all costs and to alleviate it by any means.  At the first appearance of pain and discomfort, we run to the medicine cabinet to a whole array of pills, all designed not to heal us of the problem but merely to alleviate the symptoms so that we do not have to suffer.  We take aspirin and Tylenol for our headaches, Ibuprofen and Aleve for our aches and pains.  When the pills do not remove our pain, we go to the doctor to get something more substantial, even at the risk of becoming addicted to these drugs.  Today, there is an epidemic of addiction to opioids, which are prescribed to alleviate pain.  In the end, the cure becomes worse than the sickness.

                  Paul had a different perspective on suffering.  He saw suffering not as an evil but as a blessing.  However, the suffering he is referring to is not the aches and pains of life but the suffering that comes from our identification with Christ. When we think of suffering for Christ, our focus is naturally drawn to physical persecution.  Paul was undoubtedly well acquainted with the pain of persecution.  But the suffering he is referring to goes beyond just physical persecution.  It also includes the suffering that we may experience in our ministry itself.  In 2 Corinthians 1:4-5 Paul describes suffering as part of God’s work to equip us for more fruitful ministry.  God uses suffering as a tool to prepare us for ministering to others who are going through times of affliction.  We also suffer emotionally in the work of ministry.  Serving Christ has a cost.  Paul describes this suffering in 2 Cor 11:28 when he states that he felt the daily pressures of ministry.   Paul also describes the emotional toll and suffering that comes from serving Christ when he describes the inward fears he felt and even the depression and discouragement he experienced in the course of his ministry.

                  However, Paul did not see these sufferings as a hindrance to ministry or even harmful to him. Instead, he saw these sufferings as part of our identification with Christ.  If Christ suffered for our salvation and His ministry to us, then we will also suffer for our ministry for Him.  This is why Paul rejoiced (Colossians 1:24). He rejoiced because he saw his suffering as necessary for the salvation of others.  Furthermore, it was intrinsic to his identification with Christ.  If Christ suffered on this earth, fulfilling his mission, we can expect no less (Col. 1:24).  

                  Because of the suffering of Christ for us, Paul viewed his suffering for Christ as a privilege rather than a judgment.  In Philippians 1:29, he states, “To you, it has been granted for Christ’s sake…to suffer for His sake.”  The word granted comes from the same word describing God’s grace. In Romans 8:32, the word speaks of the benefits God has graciously given us in our salvation.  Rather than suffering being a judgment, Paul saw it as an act of God’s grace, for it is in our suffering that we not only identify with Christ’s suffering but are also equipped to serve others.  For Paul, there is no more extraordinary privilege than serving Christ and no greater honor and gift than suffering for Christ.  This is a lesson we have forgotten.  Suffering is a blessing, not because suffering is good, but because it is a tool God often uses to accomplish what is good.  As Paul points out in Romans 8:17-18, “If children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.  For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth compared with the glory to be revealed to us.” When we are suffering, be thankful, not because suffering is enjoyable.  It is not.  But we can be grateful that God is using our suffering to bring others to Him, which is the forgotten jewel of suffering.  Christ suffered for our salvation and His ministry to us, then we will also suffer for our ministry for Him.  This is why Paul rejoiced (Colossians 1:24). He rejoiced because he saw his suffering as necessary for the salvation of others.  Furthermore, it was intrinsic to his identification with Christ.  If Christ suffered on this earth, fulfilling his mission, we can expect no less (Col. 1:24).  

                  Because of the suffering of Christ for us, Paul viewed his suffering for Christ as a privilege rather than a judgment.  In Philippians 1:29, he states, “To you, it has been granted for Christ’s sake…to suffer for His sake.”  The word granted comes from the same word describing God’s grace. In Romans 8:32, the word speaks of the benefits God has graciously given us in our salvation.  Rather than suffering being a judgment, Paul saw it as an act of God’s grace, for it is in our suffering that we not only identify with Christ’s suffering but are also equipped to serve others.  For Paul, there is no more extraordinary privilege than serving Christ and no greater honor and gift than suffering for Christ.  This is a lesson we have forgotten.  Suffering is a blessing, not because suffering is good, but because it is a tool God often uses to accomplish what is good.  As Paul points out in Romans 8:17-18, “If children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.  For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth compared with the glory to be revealed to us.” When we are suffering, be thankful, not because suffering is enjoyable.  It is not.  But we can be grateful that God is using our suffering to bring others to Him, which is the forgotten jewel of suffering.