What Does The Bible Say?
Question - What does the bible say about why bad things happen to good people?
Answer - The Bible addresses this clearly. Ecclesiastes 9:11 tells us that life does not come with any guarantees. It says that “ time and chance happen alike to all.” The book of Job is an entire section that shows us that bad things can happen to the best of people. Job never took his suffering out on God or charged God falsely. I would imagine that no one today has suffered like Job (in such a short timeframe). All of his friends but one, take the position that Job’s suffering was due to his wickedness and sin. The fact is that was not the case at all.
Jesus talked about the righteous suffering because they are righteous. Matthew 5:11-13“blessed are you when men shall revile you, and persecute you and 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 before you. You are the salt of the earth, but if the sale loses it savor wherewith, shall it be salted, it is good for nothing, but to be cast out and walked on by men.” The apostle Paul was treated horribly, as were other bible characters who were godly. Stephen was killed for preaching truth, Peter and the rest of the apostles were considered enemies for simply proclaiming a message people resented. John the Baptist was beheaded. In none of these cases did any individual ever consider it punishment from God. Jesus lived as a mortal and was sinless, and yet He was nailed to a cross because He told people the truth.
The first- century Christians were considered enemies of Rome and the Caesars. However, they took it well and actually did learn as Paul taught, “In whatever state they were in to be content, whether it was in poverty or plenty.” (Phil. 4:11-13). Rather than blame God for suffering, we need to consider 1 Peter 5:8- “Beware, your adversary, the devil goes about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.” We are to resist the devil and he will run, but that does not mean he does not continue to take down the righteous. God is not out to get anyone. Rather, “God is not slack concerning His promise, but is longsuffering to us, not will that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9).
Yes, bad things happen to good people and good things happen to bad people. That is course of life. Thankfully, we were not created to stay on this earth. God knows what is happening everywhere with everyone. He cares for His own. Sometimes, He calms the storm of life, and sometimes, he calms the man so they can navigate the storms of life. We end with 1 Cor. 10:13-: there has no temptation taken you, but that is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation make way of escape so you will be able to able to bear.” God is good.
Please address all questions and comments to us at What Does the Bible Say? c/o Maple Street Church of Christ P.O. Box 3086, Liberty, TX 77575 and visit our website at maplestreetliberty.org