03202021 Insult to Injury

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of our gentle God. Even when God designs or allows difficult circumstances, His heart overflows with love. His intention is to support our spirits even if no one else does.

Lesson #30. Suffering ordained by God can lead to additional suffering at the hand of man. Job did not understand why God was doing what He was doing, but he did not doubt that God's hand was at work. Job often acknowledged God's sovereignty and oversight in relation to his trial, including in 30:11: "Because he hath loosed my cord, and afflicted me." Job said that God's action led to actions by others; this verse begins with the word "because." Because of what God was doing, others were emboldened to act, and their actions caused additional pain for Job.

They mocked Job (30:1). They taunted him and belittled him (30:9). They hated him, withdrew from association with him, and spit on him (30:10). They cast off restraints (30:11). Whole families used his weakness as a time of opportunity (30:12). They made his path even harder, and profited from his losses with no one to curtail them (30:13). They rolled toward him in a broad, overwhelming attack (30:14). They worked terrors against him, destroyed his reputation, and ate up his resources (30:15).

Why do people do such things? Primarily, I refer to unbelievers, which is who Job is talking about. The reasons for such actions stem from the lusts and weaknesses of the flesh that controls them. Sadly, similar responses sometimes come from other Christians, for the same reasons. Following are some possible motivations or rationalizations for adding insult to injury.

First, awkwardness. Sometimes people have a hard time seeing someone else in pain. They don't know what to say or do. They may even have an instinct that the situation calls for compassion, but they are not comfortable with showing tenderness. They may feel guilty that someone else is suffering while they are not. Perhaps instead of offering a response that feels awkward, they respond with something easier and less personal, even insensitive or cruel.

Second, fear. People might be afraid that by association, bad luck will rub off on them. Maybe association with someone who is in a bad situation will cause damage to one's own reputation or lower his prestige and standing in the eyes of others. Self-preservation is a strong motivation, and people will work hard to protect their own interests.

Third, selfishness. Helping someone who is suffering requires energy. It requires commitment to thinking of how to help. An intention to help might require one's own resources to be expended or depleted. Especially if the need seems like a bottomless pit, people don't want to commit an unqualified amount of resources.

Fourth, greed. People will rationalize away the circumstances to do what helps their bottom line. (The Chaldeans are selling camels cheap; I won't ask questions about where they got them. Job is no longer selling sheep, which leaves the market wide open for me.) If someone else's loss is my gain, so be it. People are opportunistic in the hopes of getting ahead.

Fifth, carnality. When strong Christians are in places of respect and leadership, there is a trickle-down effect on those around them. Society at large is held to a higher standard. Morality and righteousness are expected of those who don't want to live that way. So if Christians can be brought down, that lowers the unwelcome expectations and demands on others.

Sixth, faithlessness. People who don't believe in God or who choose not to follow Him do not want to be confronted with evidence that He is real or that a relationship with Him is valuable. Seeing a Christian who is suffering gives fuel to their fire, offering "proof" that Christianity doesn't work. Now they can speak a little more confidently in deriding Christianity and in declaring that they were right not to choose it.

Where do those considerations leave us? First, this gives us pause to evaluate our own responses. Do we help those who are hurting? Do we intentionally support? Are we willing to say something even though it is awkward? Are we willing to give of our resources to meet a need? "Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees" (Hebrews 12:12).

Second, we ought to have an understanding and compassionate response to those who react wrongly. Each of us is aware of how strong the pull of the flesh is; it often influences us to do wrong. So when people act wrong, if we can recognize that they are trapped in their sinful flesh, then we can better handle the wrong things they do. Even as they injure us, we can pray for them and desire their salvation, because we understand that their need is deeply spiritual. "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be" (Romans 8:7).

Third, we can have perspective, remembering Who is more powerful. While the actions of men might be painful, they are not the most important. "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28). "The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?" (Psalm 118:6).

Fourth, we can rejoice and take hope in knowing that while man might not have mercy on those who are suffering, God has mercy and compassion. "Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in the earth! He raiseth the poor up out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill" (Psalm 113:6-7).

Fifth, we can remember that time will prove the wicked wrong. They think they are seeing proof that following God isn't worth it, but by God's grace, in time their observations will change. As they see God uphold us through the insupportable, they will be intrigued, and we will be able "to give an answer to every man that asketh [us] a reason of the hope that is in [us]" (I Peter 3:15). Trials in a Christian's life don't prove that faith is foolish; they actually prove the opposite!

May you sense God's gentle care this week, even as He gives you grace to minister to the needy around you.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA

Archived letters: www.dearmissionarylady.blogspot.com.