“For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.”
For it is better,
It is axiomatic that Christians will suffer in God’s plan. The only option is whether we will accept that suffering as the will of God for us.
There is a suffering of a higher rank – “better.” It is better to suffer for “well doing” than for “evil doing.” It is better to suffer for a just cause than to suffer for deserved discipline. All suffering is good for the Christian, but undeserved suffering makes us partners in Christ’s suffering.
if it is the will of God,
“If” – in Greek, this “if” is a wish. It is Peter’s wish that Asia Minor Christians suffer in the will of God for well doing. “I wish it were true that you suffer for ‘well doing,’ but it isn’t true.” Obviously, it is not the will of God that we suffer for wrongdoing. It is better for us to suffer in the will of God than out of it.
Suffering is the sovereign plan of God – “the will of God.” If it is inevitable that we suffer in God’s plan, we need to make sure it is because of a good testimony rather than a poor testimony.
1 Pe 2:19-21, “For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 20For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.”
Suffering never comes to us except by the will of God.
1 Pe 2:15, “For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.”
1 Pe 5:10-11, “But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 11To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
to suffer for doing good than for doing evil
Some people are surprised that they suffer for doing the “good,” yet that is precisely the will of God at times. If we growl, grumble and accuse God of injustice in our lives, this sabotages living in the will of God for us.
PRINCIPLE:
Nothing is as crucial to the life of the child of God as the will of God.
APPLICATION:
Suffering comes from the will of God. Nothing is more important than the will of God for the child of God.
What God ordains for us is his will. We are not only in the will of God, but we are to live to the will of God. We live an exciting life because God has something planned for us tomorrow and next year. Maybe tomorrow, we will be in heaven. We do not know the future, but God does. Therefore, we need not fear the future. We now live to God.
1 Pe 4:2, “That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.”
What God ordains for us is the best for us. Child of God, if you face difficulty and are at wit’s end’s corner, come to rest in the will of God.
