Why Do Some People Suffer More?

The suffering or blessing that some people experience does not always appear to be connected to their actions. In fact, sometimes the godliest people have the hardest lives, while those who seem to hate God the most have the easiest lives. What are we to make of this?

First, the Bible says that bad lives are sometimes—but certainly not always—connected to personal sin. Sinful actions often result in harsh consequences in this life (see 2 Chron. 36:11–21). However, the book of Job tells us that Job lived a holy life and loved God but endured some of the worst suffering imaginable. His friends were wrong to believe that he suffered because of his own sin.

Second, while the Bible tells us in a general way that those who love and obey God will be blessed, it also says that sometimes people who love and obey God suffer and that sometimes wicked people prosper. Proverbs 24:16 tells us that righteous people may often fall into suffering. Psalm 73 observes that wicked people sometimes prosper.

Third, those who live good lives now will not live good lives forever if they do not repent and trust the Lord. Psalm 73 also observes that the end of those who persist in wickedness is destruction. Such people will suffer forever in the world to come if they never trust Jesus (see Rev. 22:14).

Ultimately, the reason some individuals have good lives and others have bad lives is often part of the secret things that God has not revealed (see Deut. 29:29). Nevertheless, we can be confident that all suffering in this life ultimately results from the entry of sin into the world through Adam, that Christ has paid the penalty of this sin for His people, and that He will remove all sin from the world when He returns (see Rom. 5:12–21; Rom. 8). All who trust in Him alone for salvation will enjoy a good life with Him forever, even if they have a bad life today (see John 3:16; Rev. 21).

This article is part of the The Reformation Study Bible collection.