All Things Work Together For Good
Perhaps the most definitive statement of faith in God's ability and willingness to do good for the Christian is made by Paul in the midst of his epistle to the Romans. He wrote:
...we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)
No seed of doubt is found in this affirmation. He was confident not just that God could make things work out for good for His people. His conviction was that God always will make things work out for good for those who love Him.
It's easy to give vocal assent to these words, but it is quite another to truly believe it to be true.
Consider just a few of the events which took place in the apostle Paul's life:
- After obeying the gospel, the Jews at Damascus sought to kill him for his faith (Acts 9:20-23)
- He then escaped to Jerusalem; where he was rejected by the Christians at first (Acts 9:26). And yet another plot came against his life (Acts 9:29).
- Yet another violent plot came against him while on a preaching trip (Acts 14:5-6), and eventually he was stoned and left for dead (Acts 14:19).
Paul would eventually say of himself that he was,
...in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep... (2 Corinthians 11:23-25)
He says more, but the above should be enough to paint a picture of the sufferings endured by Paul. One might wonder, how can a man who has experienced so many bad things possibly say that God works ALL things together for our good?
In the same letter, Paul spoke of a "thorn in the flesh" which troubled him (2 Corinthians 12:7). He had asked the Lord to take it away, but He would not (2 Corinthians 12:8-9). How was that for Paul's benefit? How were things working out for good by God refusing to remove his trouble?
“...God always will make things work out for good to those who love Him.”
Hear Paul's explanation,
...He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' ...I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
Friend, we need to understand that God's promise is not that He will work all things for our physical good. Troubles will come, health concerns will arise, persecutions will happen. But, in the midst of all the issues of life, know that God has our eternal good in view.
Paul saw God's hand in the trials of life. Rather than rely upon his own power, God used Paul's "thorn in the flesh" to help him to rely upon the power of Christ.
All the various trials which Paul endured did not sway him from serving the Lord. Rather, the "...labors ...stripes ...prisons ...deaths ...perils..." begot in Paul a great concern for God's people (2 Corinthians 11:28).
Having been left for dead by a mob, Paul returned to the cities his attackers came from
...strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, 'We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.' (Acts 14:22)
As God worked things for good in Paul's life, so He will do in your life. However, our ability to discern that it is for our good will depend on our focus, are we looking at the physical or the spiritual? Do not be blinded by the temporary and fail to consider the eternal (2 Corinthians 4:17-18; Romans 8:18).
Friend, let us look for the good God is accomplishing in our lives. Consider how He is using trials to build our faith (James 1:2); how our weaknesses are an opportunity to rely upon His strength; etc. In Him, there is no condemnation (Romans 8:1), we received the spirit of adoption (Romans 8:15), we have the hope of redemption (Romans 8:23-24), and His perpetual help in our lives (Romans 8:26-27). How blessed we are, for
...all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose... (Romans 8:28)
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Answering The Atheist
Complaint:
When did Saul become David's enemy? 1 Samuel 18:7-9 says it was after the dancing girls sang that "Saul has killed his thousands and David his ten thousands." But 1 Samuel 18:27-29 says that it was after David bought Saul's daughter with 200 Philistine foreskins. Is there a contradiction?
Response:
1 Samuel 18:7-9 doesn't say Saul counted David as an enemy, though it does reveal that he was angry at the womens' saying. So angry that he tried to kill David the next day (1 Samuel 18:10-11). Fear was the motive behind much of Saul's conduct toward David (1 Samuel 18:12). In fact, we read
David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the LORD was with him. Therefore, when Saul saw that he behaved very wisely, he was afraid of him. (1 Samuel 18:14-15)
The foreskin dowry was an attempt to have David killed at the hand of the Philistines (1 Samuel 18:17, 21, 25). When this did not happen, Saul knew the LORD was with David. At this point that we're told that Saul counted David as an enemy (1 Samuel 18:29). The events recorded in the chapter culminate with that conclusion. At first he kept his eye on him (1 Samuel 18:9), and then afterward he set himself against him as though an enemy (1 Samuel 18:29).
There is no contradiction.
This article is in response to Skeptic's Annotated Bible