Passage Read: Job 17-20
Meditation Verses: 19:28-29
Thought
Perhaps in many cases, the root of trouble that comes upon us is our own sin. Of course, if we believe that evil only befalls the wicked, then there is no reason to think otherwise! And if we believe that men cannot stop sinning, then there is always cause to look within for the reason for suffering. But what if the reason for a man's suffering is his righteousness? What if things have gone sideways in his life because Satan has received permission to sift him like wheat and see how he fares? Nowadays, where every believer is taught that he can have little victory over sin, and they are discouraged from seeking righteousness, perhaps their own sin is the cause in almost any case. But maybe, in some cases, it is his own righteousness that has made him a target.
Application
I need to be careful with this. When discerning the reason for a man's suffering, it is always good to consider whether he has brought God's discipline into his life by some sin. James does tell us to confess our sins to one another in the context of seeking healing, so there can still be a connection there. Paul warns us to examine ourselves before we take communion, implying that some are sick or asleep because they failed to recognize their own sin and make it right. But there is also the chance that a man has not sinned, yet suffers some evil, and I need to be willing to believe that. Otherwise, I pile on their misery by my baseless accusations, when I should be comforting and encouraging, like Jonathan to David when he fled from Saul.