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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
‘Ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings.’
1Pe_4:13
I. No trials or troubles come by chance.—There is no such thing as chance. Nothing ever happens without a cause. We may not always be able to detect the cause, it is true, but it exists nevertheless. It is not right, therefore, to say that troubles are the result of ‘bad luck.’ No trouble ever comes upon us for which there is not a reason. Whatever our afflictions and trials may be, they are always consistent with the wisdom and justice of God. We should always be ready to say with David, ‘I know, O Lord, that Thy judgments are right, and that Thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.’ All who have real faith in God know well that He does nothing without a good reason, and so they never complain at occurrences which interfere with their plans and cross their desires.
II. Whenever it comes, and however it comes, suffering is for our good.—This, naturally, is a hard lesson to learn, and it is only after you have become true followers of Christ, Who suffered as man never will suffer, that you will realise the blessedness of suffering. For as long as you regard the business and pleasure of this world as all that is worth living for, so long will you rebel against everything that interferes with your enjoyment of earthly things. From the constant experience of life, as well as from the Scriptures, we learn that suffering is a blessing. But notwithstanding this, it too often happens that professing Christians will never acknowledge that suffering is a Godsend when it comes to themselves. They are ready enough to speak of the blessings of tribulation when they are free from grief and trouble, but the moment they feel the chastening hand of God they begin to repine, to question God’s mercy, and to harden their hearts just as Pharaoh did hundreds of years ago. This very often happens, even in the case of those who are really striving to follow the example which Christ has given us. You will find that, unless you are very watchful indeed, you will fall into the same error whenever any great trouble comes upon you. Besides, you may be very certain that Satan will do all in his power to make you think that you have been unjustly afflicted every time trouble does come. We have need to pray for that faith which sees the loving hand of God even in the hour of the bitterest trial.
III. Patience in suffering.—It is quite possible to understand that suffering is for our good, and yet at the same time to feel impatience if our trial is heavier or if it lasts longer than we think necessary. But as we are not fit judges in the matter, and as we know that God never lays upon us burdens heavier than we can bear, we must learn the lesson of patience under suffering, however hard that lesson may be. You may sometimes feel tempted to think that your trials are too severe, but such thoughts imply a want of confidence in the mercy of Christ. If you are called upon to suffer much and to suffer long, pray for strength to endure it patiently. Pray that you may be able to say from your heart, ‘Not my will, but Thine be done.’
IV. Let us learn to imitate Christ in our behaviour towards those who may be the instruments of our affliction.—Much of the suffering endured in the world is inflicted by those around us. Pain and trouble of every kind is brought upon Christians by the malice and sinfulness of the godless. But because the wicked are often the instruments in the hand of God for our correction, just as the heathen tribes of old became the instruments which God made use of to chastise the rebellious Israelites, it does not follow that we should bear any ill-will to them on that account. For if we show un-Christian resentment towards them, we not only show resentment towards God, but we fail to imitate Christ’s conduct towards those who were instrumental in causing Him so much suffering. If ye are counted worthy to be ‘partakers of Christ’s sufferings,’ pray for grace to follow His example Who, when He was reviled, opened not His lips.
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Rev. W. S. Randall.
Illustrations(1) ‘Two painters were employed to decorate the interior of a large cathedral in Rome. They stood on a platform fixed high above the pavement of the building. One of the painters, forgetting where he was, began to step slowly backwards to judge the effect of the painting before him. His companion suddenly saw his danger. There was no time for words. In another moment his friend would have fallen to certain destruction, so with great presence of mind he seized a wet brush and flung it against the picture, spattering it with great blotches of paint. The painter started forward to save his work, and so was at once out of danger. He then learned how his life had been saved, and with tears of gratitude thanked his preserver. Thus it is in life. We get altogether absorbed with the pictures of this world. We become so entirely taken up with the favourite occupations of life that we get into great peril unconsciously—greater peril by far than the painter was in when he stood on the edge of that scaffolding. He was only in danger of losing his life, but those who become absorbed with the world are in danger of losing their souls. Then it is that the hand of God in mercy dashes out the pictures we have been forming of earthly happiness, and clouds the fair prospect of uninterrupted prosperity which we have been contemplating from our position of fancied security. This He does to save us from everlasting ruin.’
(2) ‘A few years ago there lived in a village near Burnley a little girl who was cruelly persecuted in her own home because she was a Christian. She struggled on bravely, seeking her strength at the altar, and rejoicing because she was a partaker of Christ’s sufferings. The struggle was too much for her weak frame, but He willed it so. One day the angel of death came for her suddenly. She had fought the good fight, and her sufferings were ended for ever. When they came to take off the clothes from her poor dead body, they found a piece of paper sewn inside the front of her dress, and on it was written, ‘He opened not His mouth.’ A poor simple village maiden, and yet what a noble example her short life was of true Christian resignation under suffering. It is not easy to do good to those that hate us; to bless them that persecute us; to keep silence when the godless taunt; to hear bitter words without feeling revengeful thoughts; but if we intend to follow the example of Christ we must learn, as that village maiden did, to endure persecution patiently.’